Pope Francis met with Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss the plight of the country's persecuted Rohingya Muslims, among other issues, and appealed for greater tolerance and respect for minority ethnic and religious groups.

In a speech in the capital Naypyitaw, the pope called for "peace based on respect for the dignity and rights of each member of society, respect for each ethnic group and its identity, respect for the rule of law and respect for a democratic order that enables each individual and every group -- none excluded -- to offer its legitimate contribution to the common good."

Without referring specifically to the Rohingya, the pope said Myanmar's different religions, "by drawing on deeply held values...can help us to uproot the causes of conflict, build bridges of dialogue, seek justice and be a prophetic voice for all who suffer."

"Religious differences need not be a source of division or distrust, but rather a force for unity, forgiveness, tolerance and nation building," he said at the gathering of authorities, representatives of civil society and the diplomatic corps.

Pope Francis did directly mention the situation in Myanmar's westernmost Rakhine State, from which over 620,000 Rohingya have fled across the border to Bangladesh since late August to escape violence.

Suu Kyi, in a speech at the same gathering, said her government wants to make Myanmar's ethnic diversity a source of its strength "by protecting rights, fostering tolerance and ensuring security for all."

"It is incumbent on us to continue the task of building a nation founded on law and institutions that will guarantee each and everyone in our land justice, freedom and security," she said, also without mentioning the Rohingya.

The pope's historic four-day visit to Myanmar is the first ever by the head of the Roman Catholic Church to the country, which counts over 670,000 Catholics among population of 51 million people.

It comes amid mounting international pressure on its government over the dire situation in Rakhine, which has been described by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing.

Suu Kyi said she is aware that the Rakhine crisis has captured the world's attention.

"As we address longstanding issues -- social, economic and political -- that have eroded trust and understanding, harmony and cooperation between different communities in Rakhine, the support of our people and of good friends who only wish to see us succeed in our endeavors has been invaluable," she said.

The first papal trip to Myanmar comes after the Vatican formally established diplomatic ties with it in May, during Suu Kyi's visit to the Holy See.

Pope Francis met with her on the second day of his visit.

He plans to hold a mass prayer in Yangon on Wednesday, after which he will visit Bangladesh where more than 800,000 Rohingya languish in squalid refugee camps along the two countries' border.

During a meeting Monday evening with military chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the pope stressed the importance of religious freedom and said peace and prosperity can be achieved through mutual respect.

The commander-in-chief told him that Myanmar is "practicing freedom of religion" and that there is no "religious discrimination" in the country, and no discrimination against ethnic minorities, the military later said in a statement.

The military denies reports of atrocities committed by security forces in Rakhine, including gang rape, execution-style killings and the razing of entire villages, and insists its operations there have merely been to restore stability and eliminate the threat of terrorism.

The situation evolved into a crisis on Aug. 25 when Rohingya militants carried out coordinated strikes on police posts, prompting a harsh crackdown in which atrocities were allegedly committed by the security forces and Buddhist extremists targeting the Rohingya community as a whole.

While not mentioning the Rohingya by name in his speech Tuesday, apparently out of consideration for his hosts, Pope Francis is on record as lamenting "the persecution of our Rohingya brothers and sisters" and calling for them to be given "their full rights," in public remarks he made in late August.

Catholics in Myanmar fear reprisals by nationalist groups if the Pope's visit is seen to focus even more international attention on the Rohingya issue.

Many Buddhists in the country view the Rohingya as illegal migrants from Bangladesh -- a view shared by the government -- even though some have been living in the country for generations. A deep-seated fear of Islam displacing Buddhism in the country is also being exploited by rightwing Buddhists.