Pope Francis: If Necessary I Will Kneel On Myanmar Streets And Ask For Violence To Stop

Pope Francis. (Wikimedia Commons/Aleteia Image Department)

JAKARTA - The leader of the World Catholic Church, Pope Francis, again expressed his concern over the conditions in Myanmar, related to the increasing number of deaths in the Myanmar military anti-coup demonstrations.

In the general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday 17 March, Pope Francis appealed for the bloodshed to stop in Myanmar. In fact, the Pope humbly asked for violence to stop.

"If necessary, I will kneel on the streets of Myanmar and say, stop the violence," Pope Francis told Reuters.

Speaking at the end of his general audience, Pope Francis said those who had died in Myanmar had given Myanmar hope.

"Once again and with much sadness I feel an urgency to speak out about the dramatic situation in Myanmar, where many people, most of them young, have lost their lives to offer hope to their country," he said.

"Even I will open my hands and say, let the dialogue win," he added.

Previously, Pope Francis regretted the occurrence of a military coup in Myanmar on February 1. The Pope also sent prayers, expressing his support and solidarity for the people of Myanmar, while asking the leaders to seek democratic harmony, to serve the community as well as possible.

"In this very sensitive moment, I would like to once again confirm my spiritual closeness, my prayers, and my solidarity with the people of Myanmar," he said in St. Peter's Square, Vatican on 7 February.

Much earlier, Sister Ann Roza Nu Tawng in Myanmar twice stole the show, after agreeing to kneel and beg to tears so that the Myanmar police and military would not arrest and shoot protesters.

In Kachin City on February 28, he succeeded in rescuing about 100 protesters from an ambush by the security forces of the Myanmar military regime. While in Myitkyina City, he fell to his knees kissing the ground, asking the security forces not to abuse the protesters. Two protesters died shortly after.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.