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| Pope Francis is the first Pope to visit Myanmar on November 28, 2017 (local time) and shake hands with State Advisor Aung San Suu Kyi in the capital Naepido. © AFP=News1 © News1 Reporter Dongmyeong Woo |
Pope Francis expressed solidarity with the citizens of Myanmar who are protesting the military coup on the 7th and are protesting peacefully.
According to Reuters, the Pope said, “I have been watching the situation in Myanmar, which I visited in 2017, with deep concern,” in his speech at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Cathedral.
To the Myanmar military that seized power after detaining state adviser Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar President Yunmin, he urged, “Please show your willingness to serve the common good,” and “pursue democratic harmony.”
The Myanmar military government declared a state of emergency on the 1st and detained key government officials, including shame advisors. As a result of the spread of protests by citizens demanding democratization, tens of thousands of citizens from various places, such as Yangon, the largest city and Mandalay, the second city, are continuing the protests from the previous day to this day.
Citizens hung flowers on the chests of police officers who suppressed the protests and held peaceful protests with three-finger salutes and red ribbons to symbolize resistance. There is a growing concern for hard-line crackdown, as video footage of these protesters rushing toward hundreds of people has been transmitted.
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| The international community is in solidarity with the citizens of Myanmar who demand democratization, such as a protest against the Myanmar military coup on February 6, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. © Reuters = News1 © News1 Reporter Seoyoon Choi |
The Pope said, “I am watching the situation with great interest,” and said, “I want to once again confirm my spiritual closeness, prayer, and solidarity with the citizens of Myanmar.” He added, “I pray that those in a responsible position in Myanmar will show their sincere will to contribute to the common good, and promote social justice and national stability for harmonious and democratic coexistence.”
Meanwhile, Pope Francis was the first Pope to visit Myanmar in 2017, when a massive massacre of the Rohingya, an Islamic ethnic minority in Myanmar, was carried out, and met with Suu Kyi’s adviser and commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing. Commander Hlaing is being designated as the head of the coup.