yangon pope francis hold talk monday myanmar military chief start delicate visit majority-buddhist country unite state accuse ethnic cleanse muslim rohingya people leader roman catholic church also visit bangladesh 620,000 rohingya flee escape amnesty international call crimes humanity myanmar army deny accusations murder rape torture force displacement make pope first meet yangon military commander senior general min aung hlaing st. mary cathedral heart southeast asian nation large city discuss great responsibility authorities country time transition vatican spokesman greg burke say 15 minutes talk follow exchange gift francis present general commemorative medal visit min aung hlaing give pope harp shape boat ornate rice bowl burke say army chief tell pope religious discrimination myanmar freedom religion accord statement facebook page min aung hlaing every soldier goal build stable peaceful country army chief paraphrase say statement members ethnic minority group traditional dress welcome francis yangon airport children present flower step plane wave open window dozens children wave vatican myanmar flag wear t-shirts motto trip love peace set car 700,000 myanmar 51 million people roman catholic thousands travel train bus yangon join crowd several roadside point along way airport catch glimpse pope 150,000 people register mass francis say yangon wednesday accord catholic myanmar church spokesman mariano soe naing come see holy father happen hundreds years say win min set community leader bring group 1,800 catholics south west country knowledgeable come political affairs handle issue smartly say refer sensitivity pope discussions rohingya large number riot police mobilize yangon sign protest trip delicate papal advisers warn francis even say word rohingya set diplomatic incident could turn country military government minority christians rohingya exodus rakhine state bangladesh southern tip begin end august rohingya militants attack security post myanmar army launch counter-offensive u.s. secretary state rex tillerson last week call military operation ethnic cleanse threaten target sanction horrendous atrocities myanmar government deny accusations make army say investigation find evidence wrongdoing troop myanmar recognize rohingya citizens members distinct ethnic group identity even reject term rohingya use many people myanmar instead refer members muslim minority rakhine state illegal migrants bangladesh francis expect meet group rohingya refugees dhaka capital bangladesh second leg trip tense moments myanmar visit expect private meet army chief separately civilian leader aung san suu kyi tuesday vatican source say holy see believe trip decide hastily full diplomatic tie establish may visit suu kyi suu kyi reputation nobel peace prize laureate tarnish express doubt report right abuse rohingya fail condemn military pope already use word rohingya two appeal vatican year ask would say myanmar burke say francis take advice give seriously add find together trip ... forbid word hardline group buddhist monks previously know ba tha say welcome pope visit warn without elaborate response speak openly rohingya hope touch sensitive issue myanmar people accept say tawparka spokesman group go single name problem talk islam unacceptable speak rohingya extreme terrorists pope meet myanmar 's military chief shadow rohingya crisis