“The planet is our home, home for all of us, regardless of what faith or background we come from.”

In a telegram sent to the Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Pope Francis said he was going to Myanmar to “encourage the small but fervent Catholic community and meet believers of diverse religions”.

Some Buddhist leaders are displeased with the strong line Pope Francis has taken over the treatment of the country’s Muslim Rohingya minority.

Lord Mayor of Dublin launches Interfaith Charter dealing with issues such as religious freedom, inter-faith dialogue and the promotion of religious diversity.

The focus of the first prayer intention of the New Year is inter-religious dialogue and is “further incontrovertible evidence that Pope Francis is a man of dialogue”.

The first stop on his two-nation journey is Sri Lanka where it is hoped the Pope’s visit will help spur reconciliation efforts after the country's 30-year civil war.