Senior leader of the Catholic Church Cardinal Jacob Koovakad met separately with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Saturday (26 April, 2025) shortly after the Funeral Mass of Pope Francis in Rome.
Earlier in the afternoon, Cardinal Koovakad, who is the Vatican Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, called on the Chief Adviser at his hotel in Rome.
Cardinal Koovakad, who is from the Indian state of Kerala, announced that the Catholic Church in Bangladesh would host an interfaith dialogue in September this year, bringing together leaders from various religions.
Professor Yunus emphasized the importance of continued dialogue among people of different faiths in Bangladesh. He highlighted the country’s commitment to religious harmony and the Interim Government’s efforts to protect the rights of all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, creed, color, or gender.
Lamiya Morshed, the government’s SDG Coordinator; Tareq Ariful Islam, Ambassador to the Vatican; and Rokebul Haque, Ambassador to Italy, were also present during the meetings.