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Cardinal Bo calls on Catholics to be signs of hope

Prelate washes the feet of Muslims and the poor during Mass of the Last Supper
Cardinal Bo calls on Catholics to be signs of hope
Published: March 28, 2016 05:05 AM GMT
Updated: March 28, 2016 05:05 AM GMT

Myanmar's Cardinal Charles Bo celebrated the Mass of the Lord's Supper — with the washing of the feet — with thousands of poor and squatters in St. Joseph Church, Thingagyn, Vatican Radio reported.

Populated by poor daily-wage earners, rickshaw pullers and snacks vendors, the ‎area provides a microcosm of Myanmar's poverty. 

Earlier at the Holy Thursday chrism Mass, Cardinal Bo instructed ‎his priests to generously call forth to the altar all people, — men, women, ‎non-Christians and poor to wash their feet.‎ 

The cardinal himself led by the example. As the cardinal went about washing the feet of Muslims, women and sick ‎people, the congregation followed with hushed silence, Vatican Radio reported.

In his Easter message, the cardinal called on Catholics to be a sign of hope for the nation.

"As a Catholic community … we were persecuted, we were buried in the tombs of poverty, oppression and denial of rights," he said.

"I strongly believe that  Myanmar's  resurrection from its painful past is  occurring. We as a community need to stand witness to that Easter of hope," the cardinal said.

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