Cardinal Charles Maung Bo SDB will visit Australia next month to raise awareness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and to give voice to the millions affected by conflict and displacement. Source: Catholic Mission.
Since 2021, internal violence and instability have displaced more than three million people in Myanmar, including 1.8 million in the past year.
With a population of over 57 million, Myanmar continues to face significant challenges as conflict disrupts daily life and limits access to healthcare, education and economic stability.
Families have been forced from their homes and seek refuge in temporary shelters, forests, and neighbouring regions, often without reliable access to food, clean water, healthcare, or schooling. Entire communities have been deeply affected, particularly in already vulnerable rural areas.
As Archbishop of Yangon and Myanmar’s first cardinal, Cardinal Bo has long been a leading voice for peace, justice and human dignity. For decades, he has accompanied communities through hardship and has consistently advocated for those most affected by conflict.
During his Australian visit, Cardinal Bo will bear witness to the realities faced by the people of Myanmar and seek to amplify their voices on the global stage. His presence highlights the urgent need for solidarity and action in support of vulnerable communities.
A key focus of his visit will be the Ecological Farming Project led by the Missionaries of St Paul (MSP), a congregation he founded in 1990. The initiative provides practical, sustainable responses to food insecurity while forming future generations through education and leadership development.
“The whole Myanmar Church made education a priority. Without the education of the children, Myanmar will not have a future at all,” Cardinal Bo said.
Through this project, communities are supported with access to food and essential resources, while young people are trained in sustainable farming practices that can be shared and expanded across the country.
Catholic Mission national director Peter Gates said he hoped Cardinal Bo’s visit would “raise awareness of the situation faced by our sisters and brothers” in Myanmar.
“[Cardinal Bo’s] hope-filled and faith-filled witness is a reminder that we are one in Christ, and that our unity is one of the strengths of our missionary Church,” Mr Gates said.
Cardinal Bo will visit Brisbane, Toowoomba, Sydney and Melbourne from May 1-8.
Details: Cardinal Bo’s visit to Australia May 2026
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Cardinal Bo to Visit Australia and Share Message of Hope for Myanmar This May (Catholic Mission)
