JOHN PAUL II WELCOMES THE BISHOPS OF MYANMAR

VATICAN CITY, NOV 17, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul today welcomed the bishops of Myanmar, and told them that he wished "to honor the witness given by Christ's faithful in ... Myanmar, a land where the Church in her early years knew martyrdom, and still today lives close to the Cross of the Savior."

"On your 'ad limina' visit," he continued, "you bring with you the joys and sorrows, the hopes and disappointments, not only of the faithful entrusted to your pastoral care but of the people of Myanmar as a whole. The difficulties include widespread poverty despite the abundant resources of the land, and limits placed on fundamental rights and freedoms. These problems are in many ways aggravated by isolation, which is all the more harmful when interaction between peoples and between nations is increasing and growing more complex by the day. Moreover, these are troubled times in the world, when a deep and unexpected turmoil has gripped the international community. In this situation the Church's pastors must be all the more concerned to remain close to their people and lead them in the path of the Gospel."

"In this task we are guided by the Lord Himself," the Holy Father stated. "In contemplating the face of Christ, you and your people will find the strength to live the humility, poverty and even solitude of your situation not as a burden but as an evangelical virtue, uplifting and freeing." He reminded them of "the special presence of Christ in the poor," saying "this requires the Church to make a preferential option for them."

He counselled the bishops of Myanmar (formerly Burma) "to be resolute in following the path of evangelical freedom, which is the path of ever deeper obedience to Christ" because "when we submit to the power of Christ, our obedience is actually liberating."

"To live in this way," Pope John Paul said, "is to be drawn into that love which is the heart of the 'spirituality of communion' to which bishops are called." He highlighted the need for bishops "to live an affective and effective collegiality with the Successor of Peter and the episcopate throughout the world," to be "closer to priests" and "to collaborate with consecrated Religious and the lay people, to embrace with a particular love the poor and oppressed."

The Pope closed by stressing the need for a new evangelization, and for "fresh pastoral efforts" where everyone plays a role. He assured them that "the key to success is proper training at every level, especially for your priests."

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