Pope Francis urges Myanmar's youth to be messengers of
hope
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| Young Catholics in Myanmar listen to Pope Francis inside St Mary's Cathedral, Yangon, on Thursday.-AFP |
(Vatican Radio) On the last day of his apostolic
journey to Myanmar, Pope Francis celebrated a morning Mass for
young people, gathered at St Mary’s Catholic cathedral in central Yangon.
Our correspondent on this papal trip, Philippa Hitchen, was
there, talking to the young people and listening to what the pope had to say to
them….
It was the last event of this four day visit to Myanmar and
it was the one which best captured the hopes of the country, struggling to find
its way to becoming a modern, democratic, developed nation.
Multi-ethnic origins
Standing outside the redbrick, colonial-era Cathedral, with
its tall twin towers, I chatted with some of the hundreds of young men and
women, waiting patiently for the pope to arrive. Most were dressed in the
colourful costumes of their different regions, representing the multi-ethnic
history of the modern Myanmar. They’re fiercely proud of their origins, history
and local cultural traditions. But they also want to be part of a
forward-looking, internationally accepted nation that offers job prospects and
opportunities to enjoy the same standards of living as their contemporaries in
more developed countries.
Modern aspirations
An awful lot has changed here in the past few years since
the government began opening up to the outside world. Just four years ago,
there was little lighting and few flights arriving at Yangon’s airport. Now the
city still includes some strikingly poor slum quarters, with rusty tin shacks
and open sewers, but it also offers all the international brand names and hotel
chains you’d find in New York, London or Rome.
Aung San Suu Kyi's challenges
The youngsters I talked to were very aware of the challenges
facing their leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, as she seeks to modernise the economy
and steer the country away from the grip of military rule that has stunted its
growth for the past six decades. There are, of course, no instant answers to
the challenges facing the country today. Not even a papal visit, as many had
naively hoped, can miraculously bring peace between the military and the
various ethnic independence armies.
Be messengers of hope
In his words to the young people, Pope Francis acknowledged
how hard it is to talk about the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel when injustice,
poverty and misery are all around us. Yet, he told them, you must be messengers
of hope in Myanmar, unafraid to believe in God’s mercy and show solidarity with
your suffering sisters and brothers.
Listen to the Lord
He urged them to listen to the voice of the Lord, so often
drowned out by the deafening noise and distractions of their daily lives. He
told them not to be afraid to cause a stir, or ask thought-provoking questions
– no easy option for people who’ve been told what to think and say and do for
decades.
Gospel grows from small beginnings
So will his words make a difference to those youngsters,
listening so attentively inside the airy cathedral, or outside in front of big
screens on the grass? Be courageous, generous and joyful, the pope told them,
adding that the Gospel always grows from small beginnings. Bishops here are
hoping that his words will mark a new beginning for this small Church, sowing
seeds among its young people that will bear much fruit in the years to come.
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