Pope Francis arrives tomorrow

With a message of reconciliation, forgiveness and peace, the religious leader of Roman Catholic Church and the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, Pope Francis arrive Dhaka tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon on a three-day visit.Pope Francis is the second Pope visiting Bangladesh. About 31 years ago, on November 19, 1986, Pope John Paul II officially visited Bangladesh.
Dhaka is ready to receive the most important religious leader with respect and honour on November 30, according to Kocheri, more than 80,000 Catholics from Bangladesh Christian community will join a mass prayer with Pope Francis at Suhrawardy Uddyan on December 1 for world harmony and peace.
"Eighty thousands Catholics from our eight Dioceses across Bangladesh will join the prayer with His Holiness Pope Francis in Dhaka for offering peace and prosperity for Christian community and also for all the people of Bangladesh," Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario, the top Catholic official of Bangladesh told journalist at a press briefing at Kakrail Church yesterday.
Pope is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with a special flight at 3pm on Thursday directly from Yangon after wrapping up his three-day visit there.
After a formal ceremony with highest honour, Pope will visit to the National Memorial for martyred intellectuals at Savar to pay tribute to the '71 war heroes, pay homage to the Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and will sign the visitors' book on the same day.
He will meet President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban at about 5:30pm on the same day and will also meet government and civil authorities and the Diplomatic Corps in the Presidential Palace.
On December 1, Pope Francis will lead a mass prayer in Suhrawardy Uddyan at 10 am and meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 3:20pm on Friday and will visit the Cathedral at 4pm. He will hold meeting with the Bishops of Bangladesh in the Home for retired priests.
On December 2, Pope will meet with priests, religious and consecrated men and women, seminarians and novices in the church of the Holy Rosary. He will deliver a speech to the youth in Notre Dame College in the capital at 3.20 pm.
The Pope will leave at 5 pm on the same day after receiving an official farewell at HSIA.