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| Tens of thousands of Christians from all over Bangladesh attend a Holy Mass offered by Pope Francis at Suhrawardy Udyan Park in Dhaka on Dec. 1, 2017 (Photo: Rock Ronald Rozario) |
Pope Francis’s apostolic journey to Bangladesh on
Nov. 30—Dec. 2 was welcoming, peaceful and meaningful as expected.
In some counts, the pontiff’s Bangladesh trip made
more buzz than it made in Myanmar, and it was due to the politically sensitive issue
he avoided in Myanmar—Rohingya.
Francis’ three-day interactions with broader
sections of Bangladeshi society have touched the lives of people cutting across
caste, creed and social status not to mention country’s minority Christians.
The
‘R’ word
Pope Francis’ trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh had
broader agenda—touching down lives of people facing massive challenges in terms of poverty, climate change, political instability, religious and
ethnic conflicts and persecution.
The visit came at a
time when about one million Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh from a
genocidal crackdown by the military and extremist Buddhists in Myanmar.
Since the pontiff expressed
sympathy for Rohingya on several occasions, many in the West, the Muslim world,
global media and people in Bangladesh expected Pope Francis to tackle the issue
head on.
They wanted the
pontiff use the word “Rohingya” and strongly condemn violence against them in Myanmar,
where they are considered infiltrators from Bangladesh despite their centuries-old
presence in the country.
Rohingya advocates
were frustrated as Pope Francis dodged the “R” word while visiting strife-torn
Myanmar, although he strongly called for an end of all forms of violence,
appealed for “unity not uniformity” and protection of all ethnic and religious
communities. Critics said Francis lost his “moral credibility” by failing to
use “R” word and thus virtually condoned the atrocities against them.
People in Bangladesh,
local media and government officials were upset as they thought their
impoverished nation, shivering under a humanitarian crisis sparked by exodus of
over 620,000 Rohingyas, lost the momentum to bring global attention to crisis.
During an address
civil authorities and diplomats, the pope called upon the world to take
“decisive measures” to support refugees from Rakhine state, but he avoided
mentioning Rohingya.
It disappointed
Bangladeshi people as well as media. News outlets ran stories questioning about
Francis and the Church’s global stature the “defender of human rights” in the
world.
Finally, the pope used
the word “Rohingya” calling them “the presence of God today” during an
emotional encounter with 16 Rohingya refugees in Dhaka on Dec. 1.
The encounter cheered Bangladeshi
people as well as media. The pontiff stole the show and made front-page
headlines in local and global media.
In Myanmar, Francis
saved country’s minority Christians from extremist Buddhist backlash by
avoiding the “R” word and by using the same word he not just lifted up himself
in hearts of Bangladeshi people but also raised profile of country’s minority
Christians.
Interfaith
and ecumenical harmony
Pope Francis attended a major interfaith and
ecumenical gathering in Dhaka on Dec. 2 attended by about 4,000 leaders and
members of various faiths and Christian denominations including several hundred
imams and madrasa students.
The pontiff lauded Bangladesh’s long tradition of
harmony and pluralism, noting that harmony and peace face growing threats from
those use “most holy name of God” to justify violence, referring to the bloody
café carnage in Dhaka last year by Islamic militants.
The pope was visibly moved during the program, when
Azan (Muslim call for prayer) started
and the announcer asked for a two-minute pause to let Muslim devotees listen to
the call and respond in silence.
Francis thanked Bangladeshi people for embracing a
“culture of encounter” coming from “openness of the heart” that leads to the pursuit of goodness, justice and
solidarity.
Bangladesh’s
image secular culture and religious pluralism has been tainted by rise in
radicalism. Pope’s message of harmony and peace is likely to encourage
Bangladeshis to “not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21)
Invigorating
minority Christians
As the pastor and supreme leader of Catholic
Church, Pope Francis’ visit made waves among minority Christians.
It was evident during the open-air papal mass on
Dec. 1 in Dhaka when Pope Francis ordained 16 deacons to priesthood.
Some 80,000 faithful, mostly Catholics attended the
gathering. Many have made pilgrimages for two days from various parts of the
country to see the “Vicar of Christ” in the world with their own eyes.
Braving a scorching noonday sun, a lack of food,
water and even toilets they thunderously clapped and chanted slogans “Viva
Papa” as Pope Francis made a brief tour through crowds on his popemobile.
Francis asked the faithful to constantly “nurture
and support” priests with prayers and thanked them for their “tremendous love
for the Church.”
The encounter deepened faith of many. An elated
participant said, "I
think today me and my family have been born again in our life of faith."
Role
of clergy and religious on their role
On Dec. 2, Pope Francis met some 1,500 clergy,
religious, seminarians and novices at Holy Rosary Church. Many considered the
encounter fulfillment of a “lifelong dream.”
Francis’ equated gossip in religious life as
“terrorism” and it bode well with many so was his praise for elderly religious
who “lived a full life.”
An elderly priest who kissed the hand of the pope
said, “My life is full now, and I am privileged and I can die in peace with the
pride that I have seen ‘Vicar of Christ’ and held his hands.”
Encounter
with youths
Young people have always been close to Francis’
heart. Before departing for Vatican Francis met and talked to about 10,000
young people from all faiths in Dhaka.
He lauded the determination of the country’s young people “to
foster an environment of harmony, of reaching out to others, regardless of your
religious differences.”
The pope said he always finds “something unique” about young
people, especially in their enthusiasm, adding that it makes him feel
rejuvenated.
The pontiff also
encouraged the youth to make sure to choose the right path by not “wandering aimlessly”
in their journey.
The youth gathering was an opportunity for Pope
Francis to examine “pule of the youth” in run up to Synod of Youth in Vatican
next year.
Option
for poor, marginalized and destitute
On Dec. 2, Pope Francis privately visited a home for
destitute run by Missionaries of Charity nuns in central Dhaka. He met, talked
and kissed hands of dying destitute, poor, sick, and orphans as he always does.
At the ancient Church of Holy Rosary, the pontiff
met with dozens poor, orphan children looked after by a local women religious
congregation.
Francis’ advocacy for the poor, helpless and
marginalized people of the society was full to the brim during the visit.
In Bangladesh, where rich and powerful often get
preferential treatment, Francis sent out a message to everyone that we must not
forget those less fortunate than us, those live on the margins and the unloved
people who need our love and care most.
During interfaith and ecumenical meeting, the pope also
called for end of plight of working class people as he recalled Rana Plaza
tragedy in 2013, in which more than 1,100 garment workers died.
Security
issues and disappearance of a priest
Bangladesh government offered Francis the highest
state security. Much of Dhaka was under security blanket during his trip.
Disappearance of a priest days before Papal visit caused further security
tightening.
Extreme security beefing up time-to-time caused
public sufferings as roads, businesses and offices were shut down where the
pontiff visited.
Some people didn’t take it well and even scolded
the police and heated words were exchanged. Some people questioned why the
government was so concerned over security of religious leader.
Yet, after all the odds for people of Bangladesh
visit of the pope is likely to remain a catalyst for harmony and peace in this
Muslim-majority country.
END
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