Myanmar’s Cardinal Charles Maung Bo urged the Catholics to pray to get the new bishop of the Diocese of Myitkyina.
Since November 18, 2020, the diocese of Myitkyina is vacant, as Bishop Francis Daw Tang retired after reaching the mandatory age of 75.
Bo is the current Apostolic Administrator of the Myitkyina Diocese.
On April 27, the cardinal made the first visit to Putao, a place in the Myitkyina diocese.
During his visit to Putao, the Cardinal encouraged the Catholics to pray to get the pre-eminent bishop for the Myitkyina Diocese.
Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, arrived in Putao on the first evangelical trip.
He arrived in Putao by direct flight from Yangon at 4:00 PM local time. People from various ethnic groups in Putao, dressed in traditional attire, greeted the Cardinal at the airport VIP lounge. About a thousand believers stood on the sidewalk from the façade of St. Anthony's Church to greet Him.
"I have been dreaming of coming to Putao for a long time. I just got the opportunity,” he said.
Putao is one of the most valuable and beautiful places in Myanmar and a unique multi-ethnic city.
A special song for the cardinal's trip to Putao was composed by Putao-born songwriter Zang Yaw Seng Naw (Myit Sone), and the youth from the Putao parish church sang at the welcoming ceremony, which was well received by the cardinal.
"I do not think I will be so welcoming," he said. “I am happy to have such a big welcome,” said the cardinal.
The welcoming ceremony of the cardinal was held at St. Anthony’s Church shortly after his arrival and honored with Rawang traditional textiles and Gaung-bawng, Lisu conventional call ‘Zar Ba’, and Kachin traditional “Magun Shat Lit.”
Father John Aung Htoi, parish priest of Putao said: "Our Catholic Church is a minority in this area and we have been motivated because of the Cardinal’s visit.”
The cardinal came to attend Putao to attend the 25th priestly anniversary of the first Lisu-Rawang ethnic priest, Father Peter Zang Yaw Hpung.
Bo becomes the first cardinal to visit the Putao mission area.
Father Peter said, “I felt it was a special blessing that Cardinal Bo joined and celebrated my 25th priestly ordination anniversary.”
Many Putao residents have seen a cardinal at the church for the first time, and some do not understand the Catholic term ‘Cardinal”.
Cardinal Bo is the chairman of the Catholic Church in Myanmar and the president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. – With inputs by Thomas
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