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Pillay, as well as Christian Conference of Asia general secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara, and other ecumenical leaders, were hosted by the Myanmar Council of Churches in Yangon, Myanmar.
Pillay attended meetings at the Church of the Province of Myanmar (Anglican), Methodist Church of the Union of Myanmar (Lower Myanmar), Myanmar Baptist Convention, Myanmar Council of Churches, Myanmar Institute of Theology, and Mary Chapman School for the Deaf.
Churches and organizations highlighted key historical milestones in mission and witness, including their deep engagement in social development, pioneering ministries in diakonia, and humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected areas. They also described the life-threatening situations faced daily by those serving in rural regions, particularly in communities living amidst ongoing conflicts and violence.
Addressing church leaders gathered at the headquarters of the Myanmar Baptist Convention, the largest WCC member church in Myanmar with more than two million members across the country, Pillay affirmed the solidarity and accompaniment of the global church and the ecumenical movement with the churches and people of Myanmar.
Pillay said that, as followers of Christ, “we need to live with faith and hope amidst despair as hope brings resilience.”
During a meeting held at the Myanmar Ecumenical Centre, with the participation of church and ecumenical leaders representing 13 member churches and 18 ecumenical organisations and institutions of the Myanmar Council of Churches, Pillay engaged in dialogue on issues related to peace, reconciliation, visible unity, climate justice, and ecumenical leadership development.
Pillay affirmed during the discussions with the church leaders that “unity and justice will have to go side by side; justice of the people who are deprived of their sanctity of life and denied of opportunities in life will not be denied forever by God.”
In a sermon he offered at the Methodist English Church in Yangon on 12 October, Pillay preached about “Christ our spiritual compass and hope.”
He reflected that communities in Myanmar are faced with uncertainty and fear of the present and future. “We sometimes wonder why Jesus is asleep amidst these storms,” he said. “Political leaders seem to support war and violence.”
He reflected on how easy it is to accuse God of not caring. “Where is God when thousands of people go to bed hungry every night?” he asked. “Where is God when thousands of people are denied access to humanitarian aid?”
But Jesus is always with us, Pillay said. “Despite suffering, tragedy, and even death, we affirm with gratitude God’s gift of life, and we work tirelessly to protect, support, and nurture it,” he said. “Christ’s triumph over death and his continued presence among us, bringing God’s compassion: that is the basis for a hope we can embrace in ourselves and offer to the world.”
Pillay’s visit to Myanmar marks the first time a WCC general secretary has visited the country’s member churches since 2003 as part of a pastoral and ecumenical solidarity accompaniment mission.