Cardinal Bo renews appeal for peace in embattled Myanmar

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“Though hope is shaken by war, terrorism, and inequality, peace remains an undeniable need of humanity,” said Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar in his recent Christmastime message.

In the message, Cardinal Bo stressed that at this time where the greeting of “peace be with you” is shared, and that, he noted, has at its roots the peace offered by the Christ Child.

The Cardinal emphasized that very Child “can enter our hearts” and has “the power to change us.”

A peace without weapons

Reflecting on the conflict in his country and on the wars worldwide, Cardinal Bo reaffirmed, “The peace of the Risen Christ is peace without weapons.”

Cardinal Bo remembered how, in His time, Jesus brought political and social transformation without violence, as he urged Christians “to witness this noble way and to invite all to reject cruelty.” 

Danger of fear

Yet, while everyone loves and longs for peace, the Cardinal said that in this world of growing uncertainty, fear increases, not only among individuals, but among entire nations.

“Peace seems distant. People prepare for war in the name of peace. Governments are accused of weakness if they do not respond to violence with violence.”

As a result, he noted, nearly every nation continues to accumulate weapons.

Cardinal Bo recalled that according to recent estimates, in 2024 alone, global military spending reached 2.718 trillion US dollars, lamenting that “this arms buildup is treated as an unavoidable responsibility” and that “the root of this crisis lies in relationships between nations that are built not on law, justice, and trust, but on fear and domination.”

As a result, he observed that people live in constant anxiety, believing that war could erupt at any moment.

Alternatives to stockpiling arms

“As long as fear dominates, weapons will continue to multiply,” he said.

“Today, instead of stockpiling arms, nations must choose mutual respect and cooperation as the path to lasting peace.”

For this reason, Pope Leo, Myanmar’s Cardinal recalled, calls for the complete abolition of weapons. “But this call goes deeper: we are also invited to disarm the weapons within our own hearts.”

Highlighting that peace “must first take root in our hearts,” Cardinal Bo reminded the faithful that “religion also has a crucial role in peacebuilding,” and decried when the world, political conflict, ethnic division, and terrorism at times misuse religion.

Essential paths to peace

“All of us share the responsibility to prevent the abuse of God’s name,” Cardinal Bo reiterated, listing “prayer, spiritual practice, and interreligious dialogue” as the “noble and essential paths to peace.”

The leader of Myanmar’s Bishops’ conference restated that each religious community is called to build peaceful homes through dialogue, justice, and forgiveness, and “never through hatred.”

Finally, Cardinal Bo said, “Let peace be shown not only in words, but proven through actions,” especially through dialogue, listening, and patience.

“Hatred and violence,” he observed, “arise from human weakness, but forgiveness and mercy are the strengths that rebuild humanity.”

“God bless,” he noted, “all those who strive for peace in Myanmar through every possible means.”

Pope Leo’s appeals for peace and for Myanmar

On World Mission Sunday, Pope Leo XIV appealed for an immediate and effective ceasefire in Myanmar and called for peace there and for conflict zones worldwide.

The Church marked the World Day of Peace on 1 January 2026.

Pope Leo XIV’s first Message for the occasion was centred on the call for an “unarmed and disarming” peace, especially at a time when the world is threatened by war.