Monday, August 28, 2017

Pope Francis books more travel before end of year

Pope Francis in Myanmar and Bangladesh (November 27-December 2, 2017)
Greg Burke’s Statement
Aung San Suu Kyi, May 4, 2017 © L'Osservatore Romano
Aung San Suu Kyi, May 4, 2017 © L'Osservatore Romano
Pope Francis will travel to Myanmar (November 27-30, 2017), and to Bangladesh (November 30-December 2, 2017), said the Holy See.
This is the first visit of a Pope to Myanmar and the second visit of a Pope to Bangladesh, 31 years after John Paul II’s trip in November 1986.
The director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, issued a statement this Monday, August 28, 2017, saying that, “welcoming the invitation of the respective Heads of State and Bishops, His Holiness Pope Francis will make an Apostolic Visit to Myanmar from November 27-30, 2017, visiting the cities of Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, and to Bangladesh from November 30-December 2, 2017, visiting the city of Dhaka. The program for the visit will be published shortly.”
In Burma (about 51 million people) the Catholics are 1 percent of the population, with three Archdioceses: (Mandalay, Taunggyi, Yangon) and 13 dioceses.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, 68, a Salesian of Saint John Bosco, was created a Cardinal by Pope Francis on February 14, 2015. He is the first cardinal of Myanmar.
In Bangladesh (about 156 million people), Islam is the State religion: 90 percent are Muslim, eight percent Hindu, two percent represent other religions. Christians are about one percent, half of them Catholics — a small community of about 350,000 people.
On November 19, 2016, Pope Francis created the first cardinal from Bangladesh, Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, Archbishop of Dhaka, 73. He is a professed member of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

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