From Burma to Scotland

Cardinal Bo from Burma/Myanmar will be making a historic visit to Scotland next month.

The visit is being jointly organised by Missio Scotland, CSW, SCIAF and ACN.

Cardinal Bo

The Cardinal is the current Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Yango and was appointed by Pope Francis as a member of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and of the Pontifical Council for Culture.

History 

Burma/Myanmar is a country in South East Asia bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand. It has a population of approximately 51.5 million and while the majority of the population practise Buddhism, it houses a Christian population of just over 2 million. Within its Christian population, there are almost 800,000 Catholics, spread across 16 dioceses, with around 700 priests, 2,200 sisters and an army of lay catechists serving the people there.

When the military took control of the country in 1962 in a coup d’état the situation became extremely difficult for minority groups with violence becoming commonplace and people’s freedoms being severely limited. Missionaries were also expelled from the country in 1965.

In 2011, however, the installation of a nominally civilian government saw foreign relations improve, an easing of sanctions and many political prisoners released. Conflict, though, was and is still prevalent.

Scotland 

The purpose of the visit is to provide Cardinals Bo, as one of the most outspoken and courageous religious leaders in Burma, the opportunity to highlight the challenges Burma continues to face, especially in respect to human rights, freedom of religion, conflict and poverty. 

Celtic themed Mass with Cardinal Bo

Sunday 8^th  May at 5:15pm

St Andrew’s Cathedral

Glasgow

G1 4ER

Open to the public, it is expected that Archbishop Conti and Bishop John Keenan will celebrate Mass.

 

Schools only Event – A Talk by Cardinal Bo

Monday 9^th  May at 10am-12pm 

Ravenscraig Sports Centre

Motherwell

ML1 2TZ 

A talk by Cardinal Bo followed by  presentations from different charities who work in Burma. Schools from across Motherwell Diocese have been invited.

 

Joint talks by Cardinal Bo  and Sister Isabelle Smythe

Tuesday 10^th May

Lauriston Hall

Edinburgh

EH3 9DJ

Open to the public and parliamentarians have also been invited.

Will you join us in welcoming Cardinal Bo?

For more infomation give the office a call: 01698 337 470.