Myanmar approves diplomatic ties with Vatican

Approval comes after meetings between high-level church officials and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi

St. Peter's Square at the Vatican during Pope Francis' Sunday Angelus prayer on March 5. (Photo by Vincenzo Pinto/AFP)

Published: March 15, 2017 03:52 AM GMT

Updated: March 15, 2017 04:03 AM GMT

Myanmar's parliament approved forming diplomatic relationships with the Vatican on March 10.

The announcement follows Archbishop Paul Tsang in-Nam, Apostolic delegate to Myanmar, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon and Father Maurice Nyunt Wai, executive secretary of Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar, holding a meeting with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb 8.

Archbishop Tsang officially submitted the Vatican's proposal to Suu Kyi during the meeting held in Naypyidaw, the country's capital.

The Vatican has diplomatic ties with 180 countries. On March 10, Myanmar's parliament also approved diplomatic relationships with Liberia, Guinea, Malta, the Seychelles and Ecuador.

Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (right) meets with Archbishop Paul Tsang in-Nam, Apostolic delegate to Myanmar (second from right), Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon (third from right) and Father Maurice Nyunt Wai, executive secretary of Catholic Bishops Conference of Myanmar at her residence in Naypyidaw on Feb 8. (Photo courtesy of Yangon Archdiocese)

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