杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

杏MAP导航 Francis was on an apostolic visit to Asia last week.  He visited Myanmar, Nov. 27-30, after which he flew to neighbouring Bangladesh from where flew back to Rome on Dec. 3.   The motto of the Nov. 30-Dec. 3 Bangladesh trip was 鈥淗armony and Peace鈥�. 

Following the trip, we phoned Cardinal Patrick D鈥橰ozario, Archbishop of Dhaka, to know about how he felt the visit went like, and he was exuberant about it.

Cardinal D鈥橰ozario expressed gratitude to God, the Bangladesh government and the Vatican for the success of the papal visit.   Both the nation and the Church, he said, are very happy with the outcome. 

Minister of the Gospel

In a  to the nation ahead of his visit, the 杏MAP导航 had outlined 3 main objectives of his Dhaka trip, which the cardinal said have been achieved and which the nation also experienced.   In the message the 杏MAP导航 had said he was coming as the 鈥渕inister of the Gospel of the message of Jesus Christ to proclaim the message of reconciliation, forgiveness and peace.鈥�&苍产蝉辫; The cardinal said this was evident in all the papal events, especially in the interreligious and ecumenical gathering of religious leaders which he described as a 鈥渃elebration of harmony鈥� peace and reconciliation that was particularly felt in the encounter with the Rohingya refugees. The event was also a moment of prayer in which representatives of all religions participated.

Confirming the faith

Card. D鈥橰ozario said that the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 second goal was to 鈥渃onfirm the faith of the Catholic Church鈥� which he said did happen.  He said, more than 80,000 people who came together could see and hear him and it was 鈥渟urprising that he went all around and so many people could touch him鈥�.   People were very happy they could see him from nearby and also 鈥�pray with him and be united with him.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

The 74-year old cardinal said the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 visit also gave a 鈥�sense of identity鈥� to Bangladesh鈥檚 Catholics, who though a minority, felt they are 鈥渟omebody鈥�  in the nation.   The 杏MAP导航 gave them a 鈥渂ig encouragement鈥� which made them 鈥渇eel big鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis also outlined the pastoral priorities of the Church when he met the bishops of the nation, which the cardinal said are very 鈥減rophetic and relevant鈥�.  Bangladesh鈥檚 first cardinal, as well as the world's first cardinal from among the Bengali-speaking people noted that the Holy Father was very pleased with the communion between the faithful, clergy and the hierarchy, and he also encouraged the promotion of the laity.

Rohingya 鈥� the climax

But the climax of the entire Bangladesh visit, according to the cardinal, was the  which was a 鈥渃elebration of real harmony, culture and religious relationship鈥�  which also included a 鈥�dialogue with the poor", especially in meeting with the Rohingya refugees at the end.  Everybody saw how the Holy Father received the Rohingya, and  all the religious leaders embraced the  refugees.  So it was 鈥渁 celebration, a festival鈥� which itself was dialogue, the cardinal said.  According to him, the papal visit was 鈥渆xcellent鈥� and it has left a 鈥渂ig mark鈥� not only among the Christians but also among the people of other religions.  Card. D'Rozario said all were 鈥渆nthusiastic and participated鈥� in the various events; the media was very positive about the visit and the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 use of the name of Rohingya  is 鈥渁 big gift to Bangladesh.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;