By Lisa Zengarini
March 19, 2025
In a tragic escalation of Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Banmaw, Kachin State, was reportedly set ablaze by military forces on Sunday, March 16. The fire occurred around 4 p.m. during operations conducted by soldiers of the State Administration Council (SAC), the ruling military junta, on the eve of the cathedral’s patronal feast day.
This incident follows a series of attacks on religious structures in the region. On February 26, the priest’s residence, a newly constructed three-story diocesan office building, and a high school within the same compound were also burned, leading to the displacement of clergy, including Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam.
The Diocese of Banmaw, established in 2006, encompasses a largely mountainous area bordering China. Prior to the conflict, it served a population of over 407,000 people from various ethnic groups, including more than 27,000 baptized Catholics.
The destruction of St. Patrick’s Cathedral adds to the growing list of religious buildings targeted since the military coup in 2021. On March 3, Burmese armed forces bombed and destroyed the St. Michael’s Catholic Church pastoral center in the same diocese. Earlier, on February 6, airstrikes damaged the Sacred Heart Church in Chin State.
The conflict, which began after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021, has led to widespread violence and humanitarian crises. Nearly 6,400 civilians have been killed, over 28,700 arrested, and approximately 20 million people now require humanitarian assistance, with a third of the nation’s inhabitants facing food insecurity.
Despite the destruction and ongoing threats, local clergy and faithful continue to practice their faith under perilous conditions. Fr. Wilbert Mireh, a parish priest in the affected region, noted that Masses are often held under trees due to the dangers of gathering in church buildings. He emphasized that, despite the suffering and precarious conditions, the faith and spirit of the community remain strong.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with calls for an end to the violence and the restoration of democracy in Myanmar.
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