Pope Francis meets with Myanmar army chief in Yangon
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| Myanmar army chief senior general Min Aung Hlaing.- EPA |
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has met with the
commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s Armed Forces during the first day of his
Apostolic Visit to the country.
The Pope held talks with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at
the Archbishop of Yangon’s residence shortly after his arrival in Myanmar on
Monday.
Following the courtesy visit, which lasted 15 minutes, the
pair exchanged gifts. Pope Francis presented Min Aung Hlaing with a
commemorative medal of his visit and in return received a harp in the shape of
a boat and an ornate rice bowl.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, said:
“They discussed the great responsibility of authorities of the country in this
time of transition.”
Last year, the United Nations officials called on Myanmar to
end military operations that have “led to the systematic violation and abuse of
human rights” of minorities in the country’s Rakhine state. The army has denied
accusations of wrongdoing by security forces.
Accompanying the General at the meeting were several of his
army staff including a number of Special Operations commanders. A translator
from the Church of Myanmar aided the communication between Min Aung Hlaing and
the Pope.
The meeting had originally been planned for Tuesday but was
brought forward to Monday.
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