Pope Francis receives Aung San Suu Kyi in the Vatican
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday received Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate, Aung
San Suu Kyi in the Vatican, offering his support to her commitment towards democracy.
The
Burmese opposition leader, a former political prisoner in her country, is currently
on a visit to Europe and on Sunday was made an honorary citizen of Rome.
After
the private meeting between Aung San Suu Kyi and Pope Francis, Vatican press office
director, Father Federico Lombardi briefed journalists and described what he called
“a great feeling of harmony and accord” between the Pope and this “symbolic figure
of the Asian world”.
The themes touched upon during their cordial exchange
included the culture of encounter and inter-religious dialogue.
During the
meeting, which took place in the Papal Library, Pope Francis expressed his appreciation
for Aung San Suu Kyi’s commitment towards democracy in her country, and assured her
of the Church’s support towards this cause. But he specified that no kind of discrimination
is expressed by the Church which is at the service of all with its charitable works.
Father Lombardi also recalled the Pope’s attention towards the Asian continent
and his desire to visit it.
Suu Kyi has become an international symbol
of peaceful resistance in the face of oppression.
She has spent most of the
last two decades in some form of detention because of her efforts to bring democracy
to military-ruled Burma. She was re-elected to parliament in 2012.Suu Kyi received
the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and earlier was awarded the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov
Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990.