Pope Francis meets with Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar, fails to say 'Rohingya'

Jane Onyanga-Omara | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Why the world is waiting to hear if the Pope says 'Rohingya' Myanmar's military is accused of waging an "ethnic cleansing" campaign against Rohingya Muslims. But many wonder if Pope Francis will take a stand. Video provided by Newsy

Pope Francis met with Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, but he did not mention the military's violence toward persecuted Rohingya Muslims or even say the contested word “Rohingya.”

The pontiff decried how Myanmar’s people have suffered “and continue to suffer from civil conflict and hostilities" in his speech to Suu Kyi and other dignitaries in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw.

Francis was warned against saying "Rohingya" because it is considered a political term in Myanmar. He expressed support for Suu Kyi’s efforts to bring about reconciliation, and insisted that the future depends on respecting the rights of each ethnic group.

"The future of Myanmar must be peace, a peace based on respect for the dignity and rights of each member of society, respect for each ethnic group and its identity, respect for the rule of law, and respect for a democratic order that enables each individual and every group — none excluded — to offer its legitimate contribution to the common good,” he said.

His avoidance of the word “Rohingya” and his encouragement for Suu Kyi’s government disappointed activists and human rights groups who have criticized Suu Kyi for not speaking out on behalf of Rohingya.

The army began what it called “clearance operations” in Rakhine state in August following an attack on police posts by Rohingya insurgents. About 620,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar, mainly to neighboring Muslim-majority Bangladesh, in Asia’s worst refugee crisis in decades.

Pope Francis arrived in Myanmar Pope Francis Arrived in Myanmar

The pope's speech came after the English city of Oxford stripped San Suu Kyi of its highest honor for her handling of the Rohingya crisis.

Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 "for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.

Oxford City Council on Monday voted to revoke the Freedom of Oxford, which it awarded to Suu Kyi in 1997, rubber stamping an earlier decision. Suu Kyi, 72, studied politics, philosophy and economics at the city’s prestigious Oxford University in the 1960s. She holds an honorary doctorate from the institution and celebrated her 67th birthday there.

More: Bangladesh inks deal with Myanmar to repatriate Rohingya Muslim refugees

More: Rohingya crisis looms as Pope Francis arrives in Myanmar

“Oxford has a long tradition of being a diverse and humane city, and our reputation is tarnished by honoring those who turn a blind eye to violence,” Oxford councilor Mary Clarkson, who proposed revoking the honor, told the BBC about the decision.

“We hope that today we have added our small voice to others calling for human rights and justice for the Rohingya people,” she added.

Human rights groups and the United States have accused Myanmar’s military of carrying out ethnic cleansing, marked by atrocities including killings and rape.

Pope Francis arrived in Myanmar on Monday, where he met with army chief Gen. Min Aung Hlaing on a “courtesy visit.” “The Vatican said the two “spoke of the great responsibility of the authorities of the country in this moment of transition” Hlaing told the pope that “Myanmar has no discrimination."

More: Aung San Suu Kyi blames world conflicts on illegal immigration

More: Halting Myanmar ethnic cleansing: 5 critical steps

Last week, Bangladesh signed a deal with Myanmar to allow the return of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees to the Buddhist-majority nation, following a meeting between Suu Kyi and Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.

Many people in Myanmar see the stateless Rohingya as illegal immigrants, despite the group having been in Myanmar since as early as the 12th century.

Contributing: The Associated Press