Burmese Bishops' ad limina visit. The Burmese Bishops' ad limina visit which began on May 26 and continues until May 31 marks the first visit of the bishops since November of 2001. The Burmese Catholic …More
Burmese Bishops' ad limina visit.
The Burmese Bishops' ad limina visit which began on May 26 and continues until May 31 marks the first visit of the bishops since November of 2001. The Burmese Catholic population of 600,000 individuals lives its faith in the presence of 40 million Buddhists and under strict surveillance by the ruling military junta. The first Europeans to visit the country were the Portuguese in the 16th Century, but the local Catholic hierarchy only dates to 1955. The rise of the military to power in the 1970's brought with it a nationalization of Catholic churches and hospitals, as well as the deportation of 239 missionaries. The pastoral needs of the nation are currently met by 188 diocesan priests and 60 foreign missionaries.
The Burmese Bishops' ad limina visit which began on May 26 and continues until May 31 marks the first visit of the bishops since November of 2001. The Burmese Catholic population of 600,000 individuals lives its faith in the presence of 40 million Buddhists and under strict surveillance by the ruling military junta. The first Europeans to visit the country were the Portuguese in the 16th Century, but the local Catholic hierarchy only dates to 1955. The rise of the military to power in the 1970's brought with it a nationalization of Catholic churches and hospitals, as well as the deportation of 239 missionaries. The pastoral needs of the nation are currently met by 188 diocesan priests and 60 foreign missionaries.