Catholics from across Myanmar in Yangon for Pope
Francis' arrival
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| Pope Francis is greeted by cheering, flag waving crowds as he arrives in Yangon's city center.- AP |
Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrived on
Monday in Yangon, where he was greeted by Myanmar’s political and
religious authorities, as well as by crowds of ordinary people who lined
the road to the archbishop’s residence where he’ll be staying for the three-day
visit.
Philippa Hitchen is in Yangon to report on this papal
journey and was among the crowds waiting for the Pope and his entourage to
arrive in the city centre.
It’s stiflingly hot here in downtown Yangon, but that didn’t
stop thousands of people crowding into the city to line parts of the route
where the papal motorcade passed by today, on its way from the airport to the
archbishop’s house. While I’d forgotten to put any sunscreen on, almost
everyone here uses the pale yellow juice of a local plant smeared on their
cheeks to protect them from the sun’s rays. They’d come from all across the
country, especially from the northern states where the majority of Christians
live, largely in isolated, rural or mountain villages.
‘Peace and Love’ logo
Their excitement was palpable as they waved Vatican or
Myanmar national flags, waiting for the pope to pass by. Many were dressed in
traditionally embroidered tops and ‘longyis’, those brightly coloured lengths
of cloth that everyone – women and men – wear wrapped around them here. Others
sported hats and T-shirts bearing the words ‘Love and Peace’, the logo
for this trip, depicted above a multi-coloured outline of the country, to
signify the 135 ethnic groups that make up this south-east Asian country.
Inside Archbishop’s House
Inside the garden of the archbishop’s house, a group of
eager Catholics (including a couple of nuns, who stood out from the colourful
crowd in their white habits and veils) were energetically dancing and singing.
As the blue car, carrying Pope Francis swept through the gates, their cries of
excitement rose to fever pitch, as he stepped out and began walking up the path
to the cream-coloured, colonial style residence.
Tuesday’s papal programme
For the remainder of the day, he’s resting, after the more
than 10 hour flight from Rome. Then on Tuesday, it’s back to the airport for
the short journey up to the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, where he’ll be welcomed by
the president and by Burmese leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Those meetings will, of
course, be held behind closed doors and even his first public address to
government officials and diplomats at a nearby convention centre will only be
open to the few, carefully selected guests.
Outdoor Mass on Wednesday
So the crowds of eager Catholics who lined the streets today
will have to wait until Wednesday morning for their chance to hear and see the
pope in person. That’s when he celebrates an open-air Mass at a colonial era
racecourse, which also served as a detention centre during the darkest years of
military rule.
Patiently waiting for the Pope
Earlier in the week, I met many of the pilgrims on their way
down to Yangon from other towns and villages around the country, including a
dozen lucky children who were picked to form part of the welcome delegation at
the airport today. Many of the Catholics are from poor families and most of
them told me they didn’t have accommodation here in the city. They’re simply
going to camp out on the grounds of that sports arena, patiently waiting for
their big moment to arrive.
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