Rome: Jesuit Father Girish Santiago, the Jesuit superior in Myanmar, has called on missionaries to prioritize presence and solidarity over power as the Southeast Asian nation continues to grapple with civil conflict and humanitarian crises.

Presiding over a Mass in Rome on the eve of World Mission Sunday, Fr. Girish reflected on the challenges of ministering in one of Asia’s most fragile countries. He emphasized that the Church’s mission today is measured not by success or numbers, but by faithful accompaniment of people who suffer.

Myanmar, once known as the “Golden Land” for its rich resources, golden pagodas, and deep Buddhist spirituality, has endured decades of political turmoil. Nationalization, coups, economic collapse, and natural disasters have displaced nearly four million people, leaving families separated and communities fractured. Fr. Girish himself was born in India after his parents fled Myanmar during these upheavals, returning decades later to find his ancestral land in crisis.

“Where there is a dead body, there the eagles will gather,” he said, illustrating how Myanmar’s natural wealth has often attracted exploitation and violence. “Where there are rich natural resources, there the eyes of cronies, the military, and the big neighboring countries.”

Despite the dangers, Fr. Girish emphasized that Jesuits are called to remain steadfast in their mission. Drawing inspiration from St. Paul and Jesus’ words in Luke 10, he said, “We are sent as lambs, fragile but free, poor but bearing peace. When we have no power, God’s presence becomes our power. When we have no voice, His Spirit speaks through our witness.”

He underscored that mission in Myanmar requires humility, simplicity, and fidelity. “Our communities have rediscovered what mission really means, to become smaller, simpler, poorer. In that poverty, not structures but presence, not efficiency but fidelity, not numbers but witness.”

Fr. Girish highlighted that standing with Myanmar’s suffering people is a collective effort, involving clergy, religious, lay partners, and men and women of goodwill. “We are not called to save Myanmar,” he said, “but to stand with Myanmar, to reveal the God who is already saving it through faith that does not yield to despair.”

The Mass concluded in St. Peter’s Square with Pope Leo XIV offering a heartfelt prayer for global peace, with a special appeal for Myanmar. He condemned the ongoing armed clashes and aerial bombardments against civilians and vital infrastructure, calling for an immediate ceasefire and urging warring parties to pursue dialogue.

“The Kingdom of God is near to you, even here, even now,” Fr. Girish said in his homily, calling missionaries to rediscover the joy of service and to witness God’s presence on the frontiers of suffering.