According to the Vatican, 150,000 people attended the Mass at the Kyaikkasan sports ground.

“I’ve joked with friends: I’ll come back to the church when it restores the old Mass—celebrated by women priests.”

The church has pre-Cana programs for marriage, but is it falling short in giving couples spiritual preparation for parenthood?

The pope's audience included government ministers, civic leaders, military officials, cardinals and bishops, and about 200 lay people and the world’s media.

“Pope Francis has asked Cardinal Cupich to express his deep concern, as a father would have for his sons and daughters suffering in his family.”

“The fact is the military are still in control here even if we have a civilian government,” the priest said.