BANGKOK – Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, has joined other faith leaders in declaring their commitment to peace initiatives in the strife-torn southeast Asia country, a move welcomed by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Despite being unable to use the word Rohingya while he was in Myanmar, the Pope’s message on religious diversity and respect for minorities got through loud and clear, a Catholic refugee from Myanmar told The Catholic Register.

Development and Peace has raised $590,000 to fund its work in Bangladesh and Myanmar with Rohingya refugees, $450,000 of which is eligible for matching funds from Ottawa.

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Each human being is created in the image and likeness of God, yet so often people desecrate that image with violence as seen in the treatment of Myanmar's Rohingya minority, Pope Francis said.

YANGON, Myanmar – In a small, informal meeting with a variety of religious leaders, Pope Francis went to the heart of his message for Myanmar: unity, not uniformity, is the secret to peace.

VATICAN – While the ongoing crisis of Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar for Bangladesh will draw much attention during Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the two countries, the Pope will focus on interreligious dialogue, poverty and climate change.

As the federal government announced a matching fund to help more than 600,000 Rohingya refugees, Canada’s Catholic humanitarian aid and development agency was already on the ground in Bangladesh delivering aid to desperate people in Cox’s Bazar.

Amid international condemnation of Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya people, Pope Francis will visit Myanmar and Bangladesh to recognize each nation’s struggle for independence, promote interreligious respect and encourage the minority Catholic communities.