As Myanmar’s civil war deepens, Catholics in the conflict-torn nation are preparing for Christmas, albeit under an atmosphere of grief, displacement, and uncertainty.
In a report by Vatican’s Fides News Agency, Fr. Bernardino Ne Ne, a priest from Loikaw currently serving in Yangon, reflected on the heavy toll the war has taken on the faithful.
“We are preparing for Christmas, we are preparing for the Holy Year, but the joy among the faithful is no longer the same as in the past. The wounds of the civil war, the suffering, the hardship and the grief leave their mark on the people of Myanmar,” Fr. Ne Ne said.
Since the military junta seized power in February 2021, Myanmar has been embroiled in a violent civil war. The coup initially sparked a “civil disobedience movement,” which later escalated into armed conflict as People’s Defense Forces allied with ethnic minority armies against the regime.
Today, the country is divided: the central areas and major cities like Naypyidaw, Yangon, and Mandalay remain under strict military control, while peripheral and border regions are contested by rebel militias.
The civilian population bears the brunt of this conflict. Over three million people have been displaced, with regions like Chin, Magway, and Sagaing hosting the largest numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Fr. Ne Ne described the dual realities faced by Catholics in Yangon and conflict zones such as Loikaw. “In Yangon, in the city, life continues almost normally. Our believers also come to church and pastoral and worship activities continue, of course always under one condition: that we do not talk about politics, that we do not delegitimize the established power.”
“We know this, the believers know this, we pray for peace and justice and we can at least celebrate the sacraments and carry out all the spiritual initiatives,” he said.
“This is how we will experience Christmas: the Christmas Eve mass will be at five in the evening, not later, because with darkness the military patrols intensify, people are afraid and no longer leave their homes. We are still in an atmosphere of conflict and tension,” the priest added.
In Loikaw, located in the Kayah state—one of the hardest-hit regions—the situation is even more dire. “In areas like Loikaw, airstrikes, armed clashes and the destruction of civilian property continue to cause severe suffering, leading to injuries and further forced displacement. They will live Christmas in fear of being bombed at night,” said Fr. Ne Ne. Of the 39 parishes in the Loikaw diocese, only nine remain functional.
Fr. Ne Ne will soon return to his hometown, where he will minister to displaced Catholics. “In my future parish alone, there are 15 [refugee camps]: some with over 200 people, other settlements with 40-50 people. Being a priest in Loikaw today means sharing this fate, being in their midst, being a presence of consolation and hope.”
The Bishop of Loikaw, Celso Ba Shwe, has also faced significant challenges. After the Burmese army took over Christ the King Cathedral and its pastoral center in November 2023, the bishop and priests were forced to relocate.
“For him and other priests who lived there, it is the second Christmas outside the cathedral,” Fr. Ne Ne said. Discussions are underway to negotiate the return of the cathedral, but challenges abound, including potential land mines and the destruction of church property.
“For the return we must have guarantees that the military will grant us freedom of movement, because the bishop and the priests must constantly visit the refugee camps and constantly go where the faithful are. They cannot be ‘trapped’ in the cathedral, that would be pointless. All these things must be considered and clarified. Let us pray and hope that in the new year we can receive this gift, the return of our cathedral. This is a request that we place in God’s hands during this Christmas season, together with the gift of peace,” Fr. Ne Ne concluded.