MYITKYINA (LiCAS News): The Diocese of Myitkyina, in Myanmar’s conflict-hit Kachin State, has unveiled the country’s first statue of Carlo Acutis. The young saint is presented as a model of faith for youth growing up amidst war and societal upheaval.
The statue was installed at the Cathedral of St. Columbanus and unveiled during celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of priestly ordination, as well as the first anniversary of Bishop John La Sam’s episcopacy in Myitkyina, according to a report by Fides.
“The intention behind the statue is that young people can learn from Carlo Acutis how to bear witness to their faith in their lives, even in times of trial, especially during this difficult time the nation is experiencing,” said Father John Aung Htoi, a priest of the diocese.
“It is also intended to highlight that young people in Myanmar can draw inspiration from Acutis to live their faith through the internet and social media,” he added.
Father Htoi said Acutis provides an example of Christian witness for young people facing the pressures of life in a country torn apart by armed conflict.
…young people can learn from Carlo Acutis how to bear witness to their faith in their lives, even in times of trial, especially during this difficult time the nation is experiencing
Father John Aung Htoi
“Young Burmese face many social and moral threats: drugs, violence, family disintegration, crime, and the use of social media in a context lacking legal protections,” he said.
“Therefore, they are frightened and seek points of reference, such as the teachings of the Church. They need to trust institutions like the Catholic Church, which has solid foundations and encourages them to build their lives on the rock that is Christ himself,” he added.
Father Htoi said Catholic communities in Myitkyina and other dioceses continue to support youth outreach despite ongoing instability, organising youth camps, faith formation initiatives, and educational programmes that accompany young people in their growth.
He added that young people in Myanmar need understanding, guidance, and trust. “Young people are a vital resource for the future, and therefore we must care for them,” he said.
Young people are among the most vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas, with many living on the streets, orphaned, or lacking family protection. This places them at risk of becoming a “lost generation”.
They need to trust institutions like the Catholic Church, which has solid foundations and encourages them to build their lives on the rock that is Christ himself
Father Htoi
In northern Myanmar, the Archdiocese of Mandalay has responded through the Don Bosco Youth Centre, founded in 2014, which shelters around 60 adolescents and young people from difficult backgrounds, many of whom are orphans or street children.
Salesian missionaries at the centre provide shelter, food, accommodation, schooling, healthcare, and education, along with sports, music, and cultural activities rooted in the Salesian charism.
Myanmar has remained in turmoil since the military coup in 2021, which ended nearly a decade of democratic transition. Fides reported that thousands of young people initially joined peaceful protests before later taking up arms with the People’s Defence Forces and ethnic minority groups.
The enforcement of a conscription law in 2024 further deepened the crisis, with 60,000 young men forcibly recruited and sent to the front lines. Nearly 100,000 young people have since gone into hiding or fled abroad, particularly to Thailand.
Young people aged 15 to 35 make up 33 per cent of Myanmar’s population of about 60 million, with a median age of 27.
While the 2021 coup abruptly ended a period of expanded freedoms, it also intensified political awareness among young people striving to rebuild the country based on the values of peace, justice, democracy, dialogue, and unity.
