ASIA/BANGLADESH - Bishop Gomes: "We are all involved in asking the Rohingya for forgiveness"

Tuesday, 5 December 2017 evangelization   pope francis   pastoral visit   human rights   religious minorities   forgiveness   persecutions  

Caritas Internationalis

Dhaka (Agenzia Fides) - "By coming to Bangladesh the Pope first of all wanted to show, as spiritual leader, trust in our country and attention towards the Bengali people. We are grateful. The whole country stopped to welcome him and follow his gestures and words. For the little flock of our Church it was an exciting and important moment from a spiritual point of view, because he came to encourage and strengthen the faith of the people of God". This is what Theotonius Gomes, Auxiliary Bishop of Dhaka and president of Caritas Bangladesh told Agenzia Fides, talking about the legacy and the spirit that Pope Francis’ visit left in the country.
Bishop Gomes remarks to Fides: "The Pope showed us that he has the poor and the little ones at heart. In addition, political authorities, civil society, Muslim religious leaders wanted to meet and talk with him: it was a fruitful intercultural and interreligious exchange, precious for our country and precious for the small communities present here, such as the Christian one".
"The meeting with the Rohingya refugees that the Pope wanted to meet one by one, in person will remain engraved in our memory - continues Mgr. Gomes - showing a great empathy, expressing love, compassion and also the need to meet their needs. Our request for forgiveness still resounds in our hearts, made in the name of all humanity. We all feel involved in this forgiveness, as men and as Christians. And we feel involved in the commitment to help them".
At the conclusion of this journey, says the auxiliary Bishop of Dhaka, "we feel great happiness and new hope for our journey as a small Church, a small flock that lives and witnesses the Gospel in this period, in this country, in this society, always trusting in the grace of God and putting all hope in Him". (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 05/12/2017)


Share:
evangelization


pope francis


pastoral visit


human rights


religious minorities


forgiveness


persecutions