{{Short description|Burmese Catholic prelate}} {{Family name hatnote|Charles Maung Bo|lang=Burmese}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Charles Maung Bo | honorific-suffix = [[Salesians of Don Bosco|S.D.B]] | native_name = {{lang|my|ချားလ်မောင်ဘို}} | native_name_lang = | title = [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]]<br>[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Yangon|Archbishop of Yangon]] | image = Maung Bo.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Cardinal Bo in India. | church = [[Roman Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = Yangon | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = Yangon | elected = | appointed = 15 May 2003 | term = | term_start = | enthroned = 7 June 2003 | quashed = | term_end = | predecessor = [[Gabriel Thohey Mahn-Gaby]] | opposed = | successor = | other_post = <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = 9 April 1976 | ordained_by = | consecration = 16 December 1990 | consecrated_by = Alphonse U Than Aung | cardinal = 14 February 2015 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis]] <!---------- Personal details ---------->| birth_name = Charles Maung Bo | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|10|29|df=yes}} | birth_place = Monhla Village, [[Shwebo District]], [[Sagaing Region]], [[Myanmar]] | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | buried = | nationality = Burmese | religion = | residence = [[Yangon]], Myanmar | parents = {{ubl|John Bo|Juliana Aye Tin}} | occupation = | profession = | previous_post = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Pathein|Bishop of Pathein]] (1996–2003) | education = | alma_mater = Nazareth Aspirantate | motto = {{lang|la|Omnia possum in eo}}<br>('I can do all things in Him', {{Bibleverse|Philippians|4:13}}) | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = | coat_of_arms_alt = <!---------- Other ----------> | other = }} {{Ordination | ordained deacon by = | date of diaconal ordination = | place of diaconal ordination = | ordained priest by = | date of priestly ordination = 9 April 1976 | place of priestly ordination = | consecrated by = [[Alphonse U Than Aung]] | co-consecrators = [[Abraham Tran]]<br>[[Paul Zingtung Grawng]] | date of consecration = 16 December 1990 | place of consecration = | elevated by = [[Pope Francis]] | date of elevation = 14 February 2015 | bishop 1 = [[Lucius Hre Kung]] | consecration date 1 = 2 February 2014 | bishop 2 = [[John Saw Yaw Han]] | consecration date 2 = 12 April 2015 }} {{Infobox cardinal styles |name = Charles Maung Bo |image = Coat of arms of Charles Maung Bo.svg |image_size = 200px |dipstyle = [[His Eminence]] |offstyle = [[His Eminence|Your Eminence]] |relstyle = [[Cardinal (Catholic)|Cardinal]] |deathstyle = }} '''Charles Maung Bo''' ({{langx|my|ချားလ်မောင်ဘို}}, {{IPA|my|t͡ɕʰál màʊɴ bò|}}; born 29 October 1948) is a Burmese Catholic prelate who has served as [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Yangon|Archbishop of Yangon]] since 7 June 2003. He was created a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] by [[Pope Francis]] in 2015.
==Early life and education== Bo was born on 29 October 1948, in Monhla Village, [[Shwebo District]], [[Sagaing Region]], [[Myanmar]] to parents John and Juliana Aye Tin.<ref name="arch">{{cite web|url=http://www.yangonarchdiocese.org/biography-of-archbishop-charles-bo/|title=Biography of Archbishop Charles Bo|year=2013|work=Archdiocese of Yangon|access-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629050638/http://www.yangonarchdiocese.org/biography-of-archbishop-charles-bo/|archive-date=29 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bo was baptized with the name Charles, as [[St. Charles Borromeo]] is his patron saint.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/charles-maung-bo/|title=Cardinal Charles Bo|year=2025|work=College of Cardinals Report|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> Bo's father, a farmer, died when he was two. Thereafter, his local parish priest, Don Luwi, taught him the [[catechism]] between the ages of five and seven. He was sent to a [[Salesians of Don Bosco|Salesian]]-run [[boarding school]] in Mandalay, learning philosophy and theology from Father Giacomin Fortuanto.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/special-features/155-merry-christmas/3604-the-spirit-of-christmas.html|title=The spirit of Christmas|last=Mudditt|first=Jessica|date=17 December 2012|work=Myanmar Times|access-date=21 September 2013}}</ref> From 1962 to 1976, Bo studied at the Nazareth Aspirantate, a Salesian seminary, in Anisakan village, near [[Maymyo]] (now Pyin Oo Lwin).<ref name="arch"/>
==Career== Bo was ordained a priest of the [[Salesians of Don Bosco]] order on 9 April 1976. He was appointed prefect of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Lashio]] in 1986. Four years later, he was consecrated as the first [[Bishop]] of Lashio, preaching homilies in the local [[Jingpo language|Kachin]] dialect, [[Lhao Vo language|Maru]]. Bo also founded a new religious order, the Congregation of St. Paul's Brothers and Sisters, in 1990, dedicated to having "one vision of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who have not heard of him."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/charles-maung-bo/|title=Cardinal Charles Bo|year=2025|work=College of Cardinals Report|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> In 1996, he was transferred to the Diocese of [[Pathein]]. On 17 March 2001, [[Pope John Paul II]] named him a member of the [[Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue]].<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 23 March 2019 | date= 17 March 2001| language = it | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2001/03/17/0158/00425.html | title = Rinunce e nomine, 17.03.2001}}</ref>
On 24 May 2003, [[Pope John Paul II]] named Bo Archbishop of Yangon.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 23 March 2019 | date= 24 May 2003| language = it | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2003/05/24/0271/00820.html | title = Rinunce e nomine, 24.05.2003}}</ref> On 17 January 2009, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] named him a member of the [[Pontifical Council for Culture]].<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 23 March 2019 | date= 17 January 2009| language = it | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2009/01/17/0032/00087.html | title = Rinunce e nomine, 17.01.2009}}</ref>
On 4 January 2015, [[Pope Francis]] announced that he would make Bo a [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] on 14 February of the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.va/en/news/230499 |title=Annuncio di Concistoro per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali |publisher=Vatican News Network |date=4 January 2015 |access-date=4 January 2015 |archive-date=13 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113112834/http://www.news.va/en/news/230499 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At that ceremony, he was assigned the titular church of [[Sant’Ireneo a Centocelle]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Consistory: list of titular church assignments |url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/02/14/consistory_list_of_titular_church_assignments/1123425|access-date=14 February 2015|work=Vatican Radio|date=14 February 2015}}</ref>
In April 2015 Pope Francis named him a member of the [[Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life]] and the [[Pontifical Council for Culture]], and in July 2016 a member of the [[Secretariat for Communications]].<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 23 March 2019 | date= 13 April 2015 | language = it | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2015/04/13/0266/00579.html | title = Rinunce e nomine, 13.04.2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 23 March 2019 | date= 13 July 2016 | language = it | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2016/07/13/0517/01179.html | title = Rinunce e nomine, 13.07.2016}}</ref>
In July 2018, Francis named him a delegate to the Synod of Bishops on youth, faith, and vocational discernment.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 23 March 2019 | date= 14 July 2018| language = it | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2018/07/14/0535/01163.html | title = Rinunce e nomine, 14.07.2018}}</ref>
He was elected to a three-year term as head of the [[Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences]] (FABC) in the fall of 2018.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://cruxnow.com/uncategorized/2019/01/myanmar-cardinal-to-focus-on-peacebuilding-as-he-takes-over-helm-of-fabc/ | work = Crux |access-date = 3 February 2020 | date=12 January 2019 | title = Myanmar cardinal to focus on peacebuilding as he takes over helm of FABC | agency = Catholic News Service | first = Michael | last= Sainsbury}}</ref>
He participated as a [[Cardinal electors in the 2025 papal conclave|cardinal elector]] in the [[2025 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html| title=Cardinal Electors|date=6 May 2025|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|language=en|access-date=6 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Views== Bo maintained a close relationship with both [[Pope Benedict XVI]] and [[Pope Francis]]. In particular, Bo endorsed Francis' [[Synod on Synodality]], describing it as "a long march of hope for all humanity," and that the synod had "energized us to return to the great days of evangelization by the Apostles."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255778/cardinal-bo-synod-on-synodality-is-a-long-march-of-hope-for-all-humanity|title=Cardinal Bo: Synod on Synodality is ‘a long march of hope for all humanity’|date=October 23, 2023|work=[[Catholic News Agency]]|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> Bo also concurred with Francis' calls for a more merciful emphasis and a renewed focus on the effects of climate change, noting that climate change is "an atom bomb waiting to explode" that has "devastated communities and the livelihoods of millions, threatening to slip away from the next generation."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lasalette.org/article/catholic-social-teaching/1908-cardinal-bo-warns-of-environmental-holocaust|title=Cardinal Bo warns of Environmental Holocaust|year=2018|work=[[Missionaries of La Salette]]|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>
Bo has been strongly critical of the [[Chinese Communist Party]], accusing it of negligence under the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and ongoing human rights abuses, but refrained from overtly criticizing the [[China-Holy See relations|2018 Vatican-China Accords]], which allowed the pope to appoint and veto bishops approved by the CCP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/charles-maung-bo/|title=Cardinal Charles Bo|year=2025|work=College of Cardinals Report|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>
He has been an active voice for the promotion of inter-faith dialogue and religious freedom, as well as the need to combat hate speech and the incitement of violence. In particular, Bo has spoken out on the need to protect the human rights of the [[Rohingya people]], noting that "the plight of the Rohingyas is an appalling scar on the conscience of my country. They are among the most marginalized, dehumanized, and persecuted people in the world."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.davidalton.net/2016/05/04/cardinal-charles-bo-of-burma-visits-the-uk-details-of-meetings-in-liverpool-and-new-maldon/|title=Cardinal Charles Bo of Burma Visits the UK|date=May 4, 2016|work=[[David Alton]]|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Cardinals created by Pope Francis]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}} * {{cite web| access-date = 30 October 2017| title= Bo Card. Charles Maung, S.D.B. |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_bo_cm_c.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 31 October 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171031005327/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_bo_cm_c.html }}
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[[John Jocelyn Madden]], SDB}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Lashio|Bishop of Lashio]]|years=1986–1996}} {{s-aft|after=[[Philip Lasap Za Hawng]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[John Gabriel (bishop)|John Gabriel]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Pathein|Bishop of Pathein]]|years=1996–2003}} {{s-aft|after=[[John Hsane Hgyi]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Gabriel Thohey Mahn-Gaby]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Yangon|Archbishop of Yangon]]|years=2003 – present}} {{s-inc|rows=2}} {{s-bef|before=titular church established}} {{s-ttl|title=Cardinal Priest of [[Sant’Ireneo a Centocelle]]}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bo, Charles Maung}} [[Category:1948 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Myanmar]] [[Category:Salesian cardinals]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life]] [[Category:Members of the Pontifical Council for Culture]] [[Category:Burmese cardinals]] [[Category:People from Sagaing Region]] [[Category:Burmese Roman Catholics]]