Tokyo: The Catholic Church in Tokyo observed its annual “Myanmar Day” at St. Mary’s Cathedral, reaffirming decades of solidarity with the Church in Myanmar.

Cardinal-elect Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo, led the Mass on November 17, joined by Bishop Celso Bashwe of Loikaw, Myanmar, and members of Tokyo’s Myanmar community.

Cardinal-elect Kikuchi traced the origins of this tradition to the Archdiocese of Tokyo’s partnership with the Cologne Diocese in Germany. “Myanmar Day started during Cardinal Shirayanagi’s tenure, continued under Archbishop Okada, and remains a cherished tradition today,” he noted.

The Archbishop emphasized the Archdiocese’s enduring efforts to support the Church in Myanmar, including training seminarians and building seminary facilities. He also expressed concern for Myanmar’s current turmoil following a military coup, highlighting the challenges faced by the Church there.

“The situation in Myanmar remains volatile,” he said. “Bishop Celso has been displaced from his cathedral and now lives among internally displaced people. The Church, as a voice for peace, faces threats of violence.”

Cardinal-elect Kikuchi broadened his message to include global crises, linking the struggles in Myanmar to conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and other regions. He urged the faithful to view these challenges through the lens of the Gospel, invoking the Second Vatican Council’s *Gaudium et Spes*: “The Church must continually interpret the signs of the times in light of the Gospel.”

He encouraged hope born from within the heart, saying, “The Church aspires to be a community that nurtures and generates hope.”

The Cardinal-elect concluded with a call for unity, urging the Church to become a space of mutual support, shared listening, and collective journeying. The celebration ended with prayers for peace in Myanmar and a renewed commitment to living out the Gospel’s mission of solidarity and hope.