Pope urges Myanmar’s religions to build peace and
unity amidst differences
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| Popw met Myanmar's religious leaders in Yangon, Nov. 28, 2017. |
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with 17 leaders of
Myanmar’s religious communities Tuesday morning, exhorting them that
peace consists in unity in diversity, not in uniformity. The Pope met
leaders of Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Catholic and other Christian
communities at the Archbishop’s House in Yangon, at the start of his first full
day of his Nov. 27-30 apostolic visit to Myanmar.
The Holy See’s spokesman, Greg Burke said that the during
his 40-meeting with them, the Pope urged them to work together to rebuild the
country and that if they argue, they should argue like brothers, who reconcile
afterwards.
Unity is not uniformity
After various leaders spoke, Pope Francis spoke off-hand in
Spanish helped by an interpreter. Alluding to the Psalms, he said, “ How
beautiful it is to see brothers united!” He explained that being
united does not mean being equal. “Unity is not uniformity, even within a
religious community. Each one has his values, his riches as also
shortcomings,” the Pope said, adding, “we are all different.” Each confession
has its riches and traditions to give and share. And this can
happen only if all live in peace. “Peace,” the Pope stressed,
“consists in a chorus of differences.” “Unity comes about in
differences.”
Uniformity kills
“Peace is harmony,” the Pope said, noting that there is a
trend in the world towards uniformity to make everybody equal.
But he denounced this as a “cultural colonization” that “kills
humanity.” He said religious leaders should understand the
richness of our differences - ethnic, religious or popular - and what results
from these differences is dialogue. “As brothers, we can learn from these
differences,” the Pope stressed, exhorting the religious leaders to “build the
country, which is so rich and diverse even geographically.”
Nature in Myanmar is very rich in differences,
the Pope said, urging them not be afraid of differences. “Since we have one
Father and we are all brothers, let us be brothers,” the Pope
urged. And if they have to debate among themselves, let it be as
brothers, which will soon bring about reconciliation and peace.
“Build peace without making allowing yourselves be uniformed by the
colonization of cultures,” the Pope appealed. “One builds true divine
harmony through differences. Differences are a richness for peace,”
the Pope added.
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