Pope Francis arrived in Burma on Monday for a four-day visit and was greeted by two dozen children in traditional attire and the nation’s bishops.
The arrival ceremony at the Yangon airport was brief and led by an envoy of the president, because the formal welcome was scheduled for the next day in Naypyitaw, which has been the capital since 2005.
Pope Francis also had a “courtesy visit” with the leaders of the nation’s powerful military. The Pope and General Min Aung Hlaing, who was accompanied by three other generals and a lieutenant colonel, met that first evening in the Yangon archbishop’s residence, where the Pope was staying.
Greg Burke, director of the Vatican press office, told reporters the meeting lasted 15 minutes. The two exchanged gifts after discussions about “the great responsibility authorities in the country have at this moment of transition”.
The Pope gave the general a medal commemorating his visit to Burma and the general gave the Pope a “harp in the shape of a boat and an ornate rice bowl”, Mr Burke said.
Pope Francis had been scheduled to meet the general on Thursday, his last morning in Burma. Although the country is undergoing a transition from military rule to democracy, the general has the power to name some legislators and to nominate government ministers.
Although described as a “courtesy visit” and not an official welcome, the visit seemed to go against the usual protocol, which would dictate that the Pope’s first meetings with authorities would be with the head of state and head of government. General Min Aung Hlaing has been criticised by human rights groups for a brutal crackdown on Rohingya following attacks by militants.
Poland seeks to phase out Sunday shopping by 2020
Polish MPs have approved a bill that will phase out Sunday shopping by 2020.
Initially proposed by trade unions, the idea received the support of the ruling conservative Law and Justice Party, which wants to allow workers to spend more time with their families.
The Sejm, the lower house of Poland’s parliament, passed the bill by 254 to 156 to restrict Sunday shopping to the first and last Sunday of the month until the end of 2018. The following year this will be reduced to the last Sunday of the month and a full ban will be introduced in 2020. Sunday shopping will still be permitted, however, in the weeks before major holidays such as Christmas. Online shopping is exempt, as are very small shops and petrol stations as well as cafes, restaurants and cinemas.
The bill will now pass to the Senate, and then to President Andzrej Duda for approval.
In a statement, the Polish bishops’ conference welcomed the bill, but said it did not go far enough and that they hoped one day nobody would have to work on a Sunday. “Let’s not disregard God in public life,” the conference said.
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