‘I asked for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi by offering hospitality in the Vatican’

In a conversation with Jesuits in Jakarta, published today by La Civiltà Cattolica, the Pope – in response to a question from a Burmese confrere – said that he had asked for the release of the Nobel Peace Prize winner imprisoned in a place unknown to her own family. “Today in Myanmar we cannot remain silent: the future of the country must be peace based on respect for a democratic order.”

Rome () – Pope Francis has called for the release of Myanmar’s democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, detained during the coup d’état carried out by the army in February 2021. “I asked for the release of Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi and I welcomed her son in Rome. I offered the Vatican to welcome her on our territory,” said the pontiff during a conversation he held with Jesuit brothers in Jakarta (Indonesia) during his recent trip to Asia and Oceania and reported today by Catholic civilization.

“I was in Myanmar and there I spoke with Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi, who was prime minister and is now in prison,” the Pope explained, referring to the trip he made in December 2017, when the National League for Democracy was in power in the Southeast Asian country. “Then I went to visit Bangladesh, and there I met the Rohingya who were expelled,” the pontiff continued, speaking of the minority of Islamic faith persecuted by the Burmese army.

Responding to a question from a brother from Myanmar asking for advice on what to do after three years of civil conflict, Pope Francis admitted that “there is no universal answer to your question” but reiterated the need for peace: “In Myanmar today, we cannot remain silent: something must be done! The future of your country must be a peace based on respect for the dignity and rights of all, on respect for a democratic order that allows everyone to make their contribution to the common good.”

The military junta’s coup ended a decade of democratic openings and started an internal conflict that, according to UN estimates, is claiming more and more civilian victims. According to the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, between April 2023 and June 2024, murders increased by 50%. In the same period, at least 9,000 people were arrested and allegedly transferred to military training centres.

Aung San Suu Kyi, 79, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 after 15 years in prison for opposing the military dictatorship, was first elected in a 2012 by-election. Three years later, her party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide victory in what are considered the country’s first free elections. After assuming the role of State Counsellor (she had been banned from becoming President), she initiated a series of democratic reforms.

The political situation came to a head in early 2021, when the military charged Aung San Suu Kyi with a series of fictitious crimes for which she faces up to 30 years in prison. Despite reports in April that she had been placed under house arrest, His own family does not know exactly where he is.His current health status is unknown, after he was prevented from having contact with the outside world, including his lawyers.

“Right now, the lady is a symbol. And political symbols must be defended,” added the pontiff, addressing the young Burmese Jesuit. “Do you remember that nun kneeling with her hands raised in front of the military? She went around the world. I pray for you, young people, that you may be brave like her. The Church in your country is brave.”