|
News Items:
|
|
Headlines
|
|
News Briefs
|
|
Stories
|
|
Movies
|
|
Word To Life
|
|
More News:
|
|
Vatican
|
|
Africa
|
|
Special Sections:
|
|
2006 in review
|
|
Inside the Curia
|
|
Archives:
|
|
Vatican II at 40
|
|
John Paul II
|
|
Other Items:
|
|
Client Area
|
|
Links
|
|
Origins
|
|
.
|
|
Did You Know...
|
The whole CNS
public Web site
headlines, briefs
stories, etc,
represents less
than one percent
of the daily news
report.
Get all the news!
If you would like
more information
about the
Catholic News
Service daily
news report,
please contact
CNS at one of
the following:
cns@
catholicnews.com
or
(202) 541-3250
|
|
.
|
|
Copyright:
|
This material
may not
be published,
broadcast,
rewritten or
otherwise
distributed.
Copyright
(c) 2007
Catholic News
Service/U.S.
Conference of
Catholic Bishops.
|
|
 |
|
CNS Story:
|
POPE-MYANMAR Oct-1-2007 (390 words) xxxi
Pope appeals for peace in Myanmar, asks for prayers
By Catholic News Service
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI appealed for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Myanmar and urged the entire church to pray for the Asian country.
Speaking at his Sunday blessing Sept. 30, the pope also encouraged dialogue between North and South Korea and asked the world not to forget the suffering caused by poverty and recent flooding in African countries.
The pope's comments on Myanmar came after at least 10 people were reported killed when the country's military junta cracked down on anti-government protests.
"I am following with great trepidation the extremely serious events in Myanmar, and I want to express my spiritual closeness to this dear people as they pass through a moment of difficult trial," the pope said.
"While assuring my sympathetic and intense prayers and inviting the entire church to do likewise, I express the hope that a peaceful solution may be found for the good of the country," he said.
In late September, government soldiers violently dispersed demonstrations led by Buddhist monks in Yangon, Myanmar's capital, firing on crowds, occupying or barricading Buddhist monasteries and arresting many of the monks.
In remarks about North and South Korea, the pope hailed recent important developments in the dialogue between the two Koreas.
"These give hope that the reconciliation efforts under way can be consolidated, to the advantage of the Korean people and to the benefit of peace and stability in the entire region," he said.
The day the pope spoke, the latest round of six-nation talks on North and South Korea recessed after reaching a draft agreement on North Korean nuclear disarmament. Meanwhile, North and South Korean representatives were preparing to hold a historic three-day summit in early October.
The pope also recalled the 40th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's social encyclical, "Populorum Progressio." He said the encyclical had examined the causes of world hunger and poverty, among them servitude to others and the inability to control nature.
"Unfortunately, some populations suffer from both these factors combined," the pope said. He cited the recent flooding that has ravaged Sudan and more than 20 other African countries.
He said people should not forget the many humanitarian emergencies in today's world, in which the conflicts over political and economic power end up aggravating poor living conditions for local populations.
END
Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250
|
|
|
|
