THE pope has sparked fury during a visit to Burma after failing to mention the massacre of Rohingya Muslims there.

Thousands are estimated to have been killed in the country, now known as Myanmar, while more than 620,000 more have fled to Bangladesh in the past three months alone.

6 Pope Francis arrives at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar yesterday Credit: AFP or licensors

Pope Francis has held private talks with both civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the powerful army chief Min Aung Hlaing during his trip to the country.

But he avoided mentioning the persecuted minority directly in his only public speech so far in the country's capital today, where he took the stage with Suu Kyi.

He called simply for "respect for rights and justice" while Suu Kyi insisted Myanmar's aims were "protecting rights, fostering tolerance, ensuring security for all".

But the Catholic leader was blasted online by people who accused him of “betraying the teachings of Jesus”.

6 The pope stands with Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi Credit: AFP

6 Rohingya refugees flee their homes and head towards Bangladesh Credit: Reuters

One person tweeted: “Jesus wasn’t a coward. He didn’t not speak to avoid persecution of his followers.”

Another said: “Man what a mistake...why? Say the word man. Jesus would have!

“In Myanmar, Francis Calls for Peace but doesn’t say ‘Rohingya’.”

And a third wrote: “The visit to Myanmar only legitimises a genocidal government, and without mentioning the word Rohingya?!”

6 6 6

Desperate Rohingya Muslims filmed swimming through river in attempts t

But Myanmar's Catholic Church publicly urged Pope Francis to avoid using the term, which is shunned by many in a country where the minority is not recognised.

They instead urged him to toe a delicate line in condemning the violence to prevent a potential backlash against Catholics there.

Today they number an estimated 700,000 – just over one percent of the population – and generally enjoy good relations with the Buddhist majority.

The Myanmar army has justified the campaign against the Rohingya as a proportionate retaliation for attacks by hardline militants in August.

But the UN and the US have labelled it ethnic cleansing and rights groups accuse the military of crimes against humanity with refugees recounting consistent reports of murder, rape and arson.

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