Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church will arrive here on November 30 on a three-day visit to Bangladesh.
The Pope will make an apostolic visit to Bangladesh from November 30 to December 2 at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here today.
During the visit, the Pope is expected to meet President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and give audience to the Christian community in Bangladesh, the statement added.
It said an advanced team recently visited Bangladesh to coordinate the preparation of the visit with protocol wing of the ministry.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at Archbishop House in the city's Kakrail this afternoon, Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario said the Pope is coming on an official visit as the head of the Roman Catholic Church and also as a religious leader of the Catholic Christian community with the message of "harmony and peace".
Vatican City Ambassador to Bangladesh George Kocherry, Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General Bishop Shorot Francis Gomes were, among others, present at the press conference.
During the visit, the 80-year-old Pope will be accorded a reception as a head of a state on arrival and seen off on his departure at the Shahjalal International Airport, the archbishop said.
The pope will pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing a wreath at the National Memorial at Savar.
He will also visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi to pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Source: BSS