The monks and nuns of France of the religious family of Saint Benedict have sent a message of sympathy to the Buddhist monks of Burma and all the population and have planned a day of prayer and fasting for 27th October, the day that celebrates the 21st anniversary of the Pope’s meeting in Assisi with all the leaders of the major religions for world peace. In a letter to the ambassador of Burma to France, Saw Hla Min, father Philippe Piron, president of the monastic conference of France, wrote: "We are deeply saddened at the news that arrive from Burma. We have to do something". In the letter, the monks "regret the violent repression that has been operated to uproot the great movement born within the Burmese people to promote human dignity and true freedom. In our opinion, what happened is a serious attack against human rights, which goes against any veritable effort for lasting peace". To give more weight to the message, the monks sent copies of the text and the date of the event of prayer and fasting for Burma to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, to the French ambassador to Burma, Jean-Pierre Lafosse, to card. Jean-Pierre Ricard, president of the French Bishops Conference, and to the apostolic nuncio to France, mgr. Fortunato Baldelli.
