Pope's South Asia trip brings hope to tiny Catholic groups
Interested in Pope?
Add Pope as an interest to stay up to date on the latest Pope news, video, and analysis from ABC News. Pope Add Interest
Pope Francis on Monday begins a six-day trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh.
While attention will focus on how Francis addresses the Rohingya Muslim crisis, the trip also holds huge significance for the tiny Catholic communities in each country.
Those Catholics face obstacles that include discrimination, an inability to land leadership roles and threats of violence. Many Christians hope the pope's visit will highlight the plight of the poor and of minority religious groups, including their own.
In Myanmar, Christianity is viewed by many as a colonial belief after the country was ruled by the British for a century until its independence in 1948.
The pope's visit to Bangladesh takes place against a backdrop of religious tensions after radical Muslims attacked or threatened to attack Christian priests and their followers.
- Star
Add Interests Customize your news feed by choosing the topics that interest you.
To save your interests across all devices Log In or Sign Up »Source – abcnews.go.com
