A newly-designated Catholic cathedral in Myanmar has been bombed by the military regime amid an ongoing conflict in the region.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Mindat was severely damaged by airstrikes by the Myanmar military regime in Chin, Myanmar’s only Christian-majority state.

The church’s roof and stained-glass windows were destroyed, rendering the church unusable, according to Fides, the information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies. No injuries were reported and the area had recently been evacuated.

Less than two weeks before the bombing, Pope Francis designated the church a cathedral for the newly-formed Diocese of Mindat. In the days leading up to the attack, local Catholics were planning upcoming liturgical celebrations, including the consecration of the newly-appointed bishop, Father Augustine Thang Zawm Hung.

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is in the midst of a civil war following a military coup in early 2021, in which a junta overthrew the elected government.

The coup sparked widespread resistance by militants of the People’s Defense Forces, mass protests, and an escalation of conflict across the country.