Vatican City, May 30, 2008 / 08:36 am
Bishops from the afflicted country of Myanmar visited with Pope Benedict at the Vatican today, as they concluded their “ad limina” journey. In his time with the bishops, the Pope expressed his pleasure at the increase in religious vocations and the involvement of the laity in their country.
As he began his address to the bishops, Pope Benedict brought to mind that, "the Church in Myanmar is known and admired for its solidarity with the poor and needy.” Cyclone Nargis has made this “especially evident," he told the prelates.
"During these difficult days, I know how grateful the Burmese people are for the Church's efforts to provide shelter, food, water, and medicine to those still in distress," he said, assuring the bishops that the Universal Church "is joined spiritually with those who mourn the loss of loved ones.
In what was perhaps a reference to the government restrictions on foreign aid, the Pope also prayed that, “God open the hearts of all so that a concerted effort may be made to facilitate and co-ordinate the ongoing endeavor to bring relief to the suffering and rebuild the country's infrastructure.”