Pope Francis to visit Dhaka in November

Pope Francis will make an official three-day visit to Bangladesh on November 30. The visit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Catholic Archbishop of Dhaka Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario, was officially announced in Dhaka and Vatican simultaneously. President Abdul Hamid will receive the pope at the airport. Pope Francis will meet President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina among other engagements. An advance team from the Vatican recently visited Bangladesh to coordinate preparation for the visit with the protocol wing of the Foreign Ministry. Pope Francis previously appointed His Eminence Patrick D'Rozario, the Archbishop of Bangladesh, as the first ever cardinal from Bangladesh on November 19, 2016. Dean of Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of Vatican to Bangladesh Archbishop George Kocherry confirmed the visit on Monday at a press conference. He said: "A detailed programme for the visit will be published shortly.” The pope will also make an apostolic visit to Myanmar from November 27 to 30 before coming to Dhaka. In Myanmar, he will visit the cities of Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, reports UNB. Ambassador Kocherry said: “The Vatican Embassy in Dhaka, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SSF are working together to finalise his programme in Dhaka. The ministry and SSF are cooperating very well with us. I appreciate their readiness and support." Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario said: “Pope Francis is a voice of conscience for all political, economic, social and environmental issues in the world. He leads a very simple life and sets an example for all with his love towards marginalised people, those who are suffering, who are weak, who are affected by disasters and migrants." On November 26, 1970, the sixth Pope was the first person who visited Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) during an hour-long stopover here on his way to Manila. Pope John Paul II visited Bangladesh in 1986. As per the draft programme, Pope Francis will place wreaths at the National Martyrs Memorial in Savar and will pay respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.