Pope Creates New Diocese in Myanmar

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 29, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI created the diocese of Banmaw, in the southeast Asian country of Myanmar, and named Father Raymond Sumlut Gam as its first bishop.

The territory and bishop of the new diocese, erected Monday, was taken from the Diocese of Myitkyina.

The new diocese is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, reported the Fides news agency.

Bishop-elect Gam, 53, is a native of Sandung, in the district of Banmaw.

He studied philosophy and theology at the Major Seminary of Yangon, and was ordained a priest in 1981.

Following the division, the new Diocese of Banmaw covers an area of 4,006 square miles, and the Diocese of Myitkyina covers 26,120 square miles.

Banmaw's population exceeds 453,000 inhabitants, 26,000 of whom are Catholics.

It has 10 parishes, 13 diocesan priests, 6 brothers, 40 sisters, 16 major seminarians and 122 catechists.

The new diocese is situated in the southern part of the diocese of Myitkyina, and includes the civil districts of Banmaw, Mansi, Momauk and Shwegu.

The parish church of St. Patrick at Banmaw will serve as the diocesan cathedral.

Myanmar's population is 72% Buddhist, 12.6% animist, over 8% Catholic and 2.4% Muslim.