Church leaders have condemned the killing of Father Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, a priest from the Archdiocese of Mandalay, who was murdered by an armed group on Feb. 14.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon, called for justice for the slain priest, denouncing the violence that continues to plague the country.
“This atrocity cannot simply be forgotten,” said the prelate who heads the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar.
“We urge the authorities to ensure that justice is served and to take decisive action to prevent such heinous crimes from recurring,” he added.
Cardinal Bo expressed his condolences to Archbishop Marco Tin Win, the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, as well as to the priest’s grieving family.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic news… May God the Father, the Lord of all life, console your mourning hearts and ours,” he said.
He urged an end to the bloodshed, adding that the ongoing violence must stop. “May the blood and sacrifices of countless innocent lives, including Father Donald Martin, become an offering for peace. Let these heartbreaking experiences awaken within us a fraternal spirit and put an end to violence.”
The Apostolic Nunciature in Myanmar also expressed grief over the killing.
“I express my profound sadness and strongly condemn every attack on life and human dignity, as well as all forms of violence as a means of resolving conflicts,” said Msgr. Andrea Ferrante, Chargé d’Affaires of the Nunciature.
He urged priests, religious, and missionaries in the archdiocese to stand firm in their mission despite the dangers.
“Rooted in His love, may each one be a sign of the merciful presence of the Father who welcomes His children and heals their wounds,” he added.
The killing of Fr. Martin comes amid ongoing conflict between Myanmar’s military and resistance forces.
Recently, government soldiers accused Mandalay’s Sacred Heart Cathedral of supplying weapons to rebel groups, prompting a raid on the church compound.
Troops searched the cathedral, the archbishop’s residence, and the parish priest’s house but left without finding any evidence.
