• Wion
  • /South Asia
  • /Pope Francis meets Aung San Suu Kyi, avoids using the term 'Rohingya'

Pope Francis meets Aung San Suu Kyi, avoids using the term 'Rohingya'

Pope Francis meets Aung San Suu Kyi, avoids using the term 'Rohingya'

Pope, Suu Kyi meet

Story highlights

Pope Francis met Aung San Suu Kyi for 45 minutes in the presidential palace with the Rohingya crisis being the prime focus of discussion.

A day after meeting the military chief, Pope Francis met Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the presidential palace inNaypyidaw today.

The Pope avoided using the term "Rohingya" during the address to the nation which was closely watched by the mainly Buddhist population of the country.

Without referring directly to the Rohingya crisis, the Pope said Myanmarshould respect''each ethnicity and its identity" and called for "justice and respect for human rights".

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Pope Francis met Aung San Suu Kyi for 45 minutes in the presidential palace.

The Pope who is on a four-day visit to Myanmar had met General Min Aung Hlaing on Monday, during the meeting General Hlaing had said his country does not have any religious discrimination and the "military performs for the peace and stability of the country".

The military has come under increasing criticism for its handling of the Rohingya crisis with reports of large-scale persecution by the Myanmar Army.