Pope Francis joins prayer service at Suhrawardy

Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics,  joined a prayer service at the Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on the second day of his visit to Bangladesh.

Thousands of Catholics from different parts of the country attended the mass prayer seeking harmony and peace in the world, according to a news agency.

Besides, 16 priests were ordained during the mass prayers.

Earlier on Thursday, Pope Francis arrived here on a three-day state visit, aiming to promote peace and reconciliation.

On Saturday, the Pope will have a private visit to Tejgaon Mother Theresa House and meet priests, religious and consecrated men and women in the Holy Rosary Church.

He will also visit the Parish Cemetery and the ancient Holy Rosary Church and meet the youth in Notre Dame College.

Pope Francis will leave for Rome at 5:05 pm on Saturday after an official farewell at Dhaka airport.

A planned meeting with a small group of Rohingyas is expected to be a high point during the Pope’s Dhaka visit.

However, there is no mention of such meeting in the draft programme schedule of the Pope.