Bangladesh remembers John Paul II on 6^th death anniversary

(April 04, 2011) Catholics in Bangladesh recalled the life of late Pope John Paul II with Holy Mass and prayers on the 6th anniversary of his death on Saturday. Parishioners at Holy Rosary Church in Dhaka, the largest Catholic parish in Bangladesh, attended Mass on April 2 to reflect upon his life and work. Elsewhere, at the Good Shepherd Cathedral in Rajshahi diocese some 300 Catholics attended a special Holy Mass and Eucharistic adoration to honour the former Pope. Diocesan chancellor Father Patrick Gomes recalled that the Polish pope loved the Church in Asia and the Church in Bangladesh also bears the legacy of his remarkable papacy. “He was always concerned about the poor and minority Christians in Asia, so he visited many Asian countries,” he said. Faithful at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Mymensingh diocese and St. Francis Xavier cathedral in Dinajpur diocese also remembered the former Pope. Oblate bishop Bejoy D’Cruze of Khulna said, “Pope John Paul II developed interreligious relationships greatly. He talked with leaders of other faiths and met many people of other faiths during religious festivals,” said the bishop who is chairman of Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue in Bangladesh. “He believed dialogue was the key in respecting other religions and religious tolerance. Various Asian countries as well as Bangladesh have better inter-faith relations thanks to Pope John Paul II,” added Bishop D’Cruze,