Peace anchored the recent assembly of the Myanmar Bishops’ Conference, which concluded with a solemn Mass at Yangon Cathedral, presided over by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo.
The Mass included the closing of the Holy Door and the Jubilee Year. Participants included all bishops, priests, and religious from Yangon, representatives from other dioceses, numerous nuns, 140 seminarians, and thousands of lay faithful, according to a report by Fides News Agency.
Discussions across four days drew on Pope Leo XIV’s message for the 59th World Day of Peace, “Peace be with you all: towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace,” which framed reflections and exchanges during the gathering.
The bishops convened despite significant travel constraints linked to Myanmar’s security crisis, with routes marked by military checkpoints and those of armed groups competing for territorial control.
The assembly served as a forum to share concerns and hopes for the year ahead.
Pope Leo XIV’s remarks on peace and on Myanmar during his Dec. 25 Urbi et Orbi blessing featured prominently.
He said, “Let us ask the Prince of Peace to illuminate Myanmar with the light of a future of reconciliation, restoring hope to the younger generations, guiding its entire people along paths of peace, and accompanying those who live without shelter, security, or confidence in tomorrow.”
Against the backdrop of Myanmar’s conflict and global instability, the bishops emphasized the need to translate the pope’s appeal into action.
They cited his words: “It is desirable that every community throughout the world become a ‘house of peace,’ where people learn to defuse hostilities through dialogue, practice justice, and preserve forgiveness. More than ever, we must show that peace is not a utopia.”
In Myanmar, the bishops said, the Catholic Church continues to act as a force for peace and reconciliation through men and women who seek to live according to the example of Christ, whom they described as the only source of true peace amid a profound national crisis.
The assembly also reviewed conditions in earthquake-affected areas, noting that the disaster tested the Church’s resilience and mission.
Bishops reported that Catholic institutions have provided assistance to all affected people, regardless of religious belief or ethnicity.
Education emerged as a central concern. The bishops discussed Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Letter “Designing New Maps of Hope,” issued for the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Gravissimum educationis, and examined the link between education and evangelization.
They said Myanmar’s future depends on sustained educational work for new generations, with families and schools playing key roles and with greater attention to forming qualified educators.
In the context of the ongoing civil war, the bishops noted that education has stalled in many areas. Religious congregations and Catholic volunteers are providing educational support to children and young people whose schooling has been disrupted.
The bishops also assessed the national political environment as elections proceed five years after the coup d’état. Voting began on Dec. 28 and is scheduled in phases until Jan. 25 in areas controlled by the military junta, without the participation of democratic parties.
Citing a recent analysis by the BBC, the report said the military controls about 21% of Myanmar, including major cities. Resistance forces and ethnic militias control 42%, while the remaining territory remains contested amid ongoing hostilities.
