Pope Francis prays for stability in Burma

Pope Francis prayed on Sunday for justice and national stability in Burma as tens of thousands of people protested against the February 1 military coup. "These days I am following with great concern the developments in the situation that has taken place in Myanmar," the pope said on February 7, using the country's official name. Burma is "a country that, since the time of my apostolic visit in 2017, I carry in my heart with great affection". Pope Francis held a moment of silent prayer for Burma during his Sunday Angelus address. He expressed "my spiritual closeness, my prayers and my solidarity" with the people of that country. For seven weeks the Angelus was held via live streaming only from inside the Vatican Apostolic Palace due to pandemic restrictions. But on Sunday the pope returned to lead the traditional Marian prayer from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

"I pray that those who have responsibility in the country will place themselves with sincere readiness at the service of the common good, promoting social justice and national stability, for a harmonious coexistence," said Pope Francis. Tens of thousands of people in Burma took to the streets this week to protest the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's elected civilian leader. She was arrested along with Burmese President Win Myint and other members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) when the army seized power on February 1, accusing fraud in last November's elections, which the NLD won. with an avalanche of votes. In his Angelus message of February 7, Pope Francis recalled that, in the Gospels, Jesus healed people who suffered in body and soul and stressed the need for the Church to carry out this healing mission today.

“It is a predilection of Jesus to approach people who suffer both in body and in spirit. It is the Father's predilection, which he incarnates and manifests with deeds and words, ”the pope said. He noted that the disciples were not only witnesses to Jesus' healings, but that Jesus drew them into his mission, giving them "the power to heal the sick and cast out demons." "And this has continued without interruption in the life of the Church to this day," he said. "This is important. Taking care of the sick of all kinds is not an "optional activity" for the Church, no! It is not something accessory, no. Taking care of the sick of all kinds is an integral part of the mission of the Church, as was that of Jesus “. "This mission is to bring God's tenderness to suffering humanity", Francis said, adding that the coronavirus pandemic "makes this message, this essential mission of the Church, particularly relevant". Pope Francis prayed: "May the Holy Virgin help us to allow ourselves to be healed by Jesus - we always need it, all of us - to be able in turn to be witnesses to God's healing tenderness".