The President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference Charles Cardinal Maung Bo on April 16, 2019, issued the following statement in support of the Church and faithful in France, following the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral.
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Dear Brother Bishops and faithful,
The devastating fire that gutted the spire and almost two-thirds of the roof of 850-year-old landmark edifice of French Catholicism – the Notre Dame cathedral – in Paris has shocked not only the Christian world but entire humanity.
At this moment of deep sorrow and tragedy, the entire Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference, bow our heads in prayer and join the Ecumenical Church groups the world over in Intercessory Prayer for the Church in France which has suffered this great loss.
I also see both towers of Notre Dame which remain standing firm as reminiscent of the two pillars anchoring the barque of Peter in the dreams of Don Bosco (Holy Eucharist and Blessed Mother). The faithful have endorsed their faith in God and Blessed Mother, in this tragedy by praying the Holy Rosary outside the Cathedral on 16 April evening joined by many other Catholics around the world.
I pray that hand in hand with the physical rebuilding of Notre Dame, there will be also the moral-spiritual rebuilding of Holy Mother Church, and a rebuilding of the culture of life.
