Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing participates in Christmas Mass 2021 presided by Catholic Archbishop Cardinal Charles Bo
Nay Pyi Taw December 23
Chairman of State Administra-tion Council Prime Minister Se-nior General Min Aung Hlaing participated in the Christmas Mass 2021 organized at the church of Yangon Catholic Arch-
bishop near the Saint Mary Cat-hedral in Botahtaung Township in Yangon Region this evening.
Also present were members Admiral Tin Aung San, General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Joint Secre-tary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo of the SAC, union ministers, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the chief minister of Yangon Re-gion, the commander of Yan-gon Command, the mayor of Yangon, Archbishop of Yangon Cardinal Charles Bo, Catholic bishops and priest, Catholic nuns, Catholic youth organizations in Yangon Region and Christian community elders.
First, the Senior General and party arrived at the hall of the church of the cardinal and were welcomed by Catholic Archbishop Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon Archdiocese and bishops. Then, the Senior General the cardinal privately and frankly discussed matters related to latest political developments of the country and the government’s endeavours for peace and prosperity at the parlour.
Afterwards, the Christmas Mass was held in the hall of the church with carols sung by families of the catholic church.Then, Catholic Archbishop Cardinal Charles Bo extended Christmas message and greet-ings, saying may the auspicious Christmas be blessed with happiness and harmony. May all Myanmar citizens achieve gen-uine peace and enjoy physical and mental well being and peace and prosperity.
Then, the Senior General extended Christmas greetings, saying this is the third time I have participated in Christmas Masses. May the Christmas festival celebrated by Christians be blessed with peace, prosperity and happiness. About 87 percent of the population of Myanmar profess Buddhism while six percent of the population practice Christianity. More than five percent of the population profess Hinduism. There may be slight discrepancies in these statistics. Religious freedom, help and protection have been guaranteed under Sections 362 and 363 of the Constitution (2008). Majoiry Buddhists and people who practice Christianity, Islam, Hindunism and other religious faiths have been living in harmony for eons and cooperating in the interest of the country. The Tatmadaw has been actively participating in the national political tasks to achieve peace and prosperity of the country. The Tatmadaw has to assume the duties of the State due to inevitable circum-stances during the last elections. Then, the State Administration Council was formed and the Tatmadaw is implementing tasks for peace and development of the country by adopting five -point roadmap.
Peace and development of the country not only requires endeavours of the government, the Tatmadaw and departmental organizations but also cooperation of religious and social organizations and the public in respective sectors. It is important to have a desire for peace and development of the country. It is necessary to restore peace first as prosperity of the country and abundant supply of food play an important role. Therefore, I would like to urge individuals and organizations to cooperate for the country based on conscientiousness for the betterment of the country.
Then, the Senior General prayed for happiness of all Myanmar nationals including Chris-tians during the Christmas festival and entering the New Year happily and expressed his wish that all Myanmar nationals can live in unison based on kind heart and forgiveness in the interest of the people in accordance with the teachings of respective religious faiths.
Then, the Senior General and the cardinal cut the Christmas cake together. Afterwards, the Senior General presented Christmas gifts and donations to families of the Catholic church. The cardinal also presented Christmas gifts to the Senior General and party.Afterwards, Auxiliary Arch-bishop of Yangon Archdiocese Father John Saw Yaw Han extended Christmas greetings and wishes before the conclusion of the Christmas mass.