Cardinal Patrick 'heartbroken' by Pope Francis's departure, unable to attend the funeral

As a result of Pope Francis' initiative to diversify the church and take it to the people, Muslim-majority Bangladesh had received its first cardinal.

The pope appointed Patrick D’Rozario to the College of Cardinals in the country of about half a million Christians, about 0.3 percent of the population.

Cardinal Patrick also recalled the role of Pope Francis in bringing the church closer to the people mourning his departure. He said, "He was not only a person of the church, but one for the entire humanity."

Pope Francis made Patrick a cardinal in 2016, three years after he became Roman Catholics' top cleric in 2013. At that time, he was the Archbishop of Dhaka.

Patrick was elevated to the cardinalate on Oct 9, 2016. Pope Francis made him a cardinal the following month.

The first cardinal from Bangladesh, Patrick D'Rozario, is also the second cardinal from the Congregation for the Holy Cross in the world.

Pope Francis arrived in Dhaka exactly a year after the top religious leader of Bangladesh's Catholics was given a place in the College of Cardinals.

He spread the message of inter-religious harmony during his visit from Nov 30 to Dec 2, 2017.

Patrick also recounted the pope’s role in taking the papacy out of the religious veil, as well as the memories of his visit to Bangladesh.

He told bdnews24.com, "Pope Francis always went to the poor and distressed people. As his revelation, he had visited Bangladesh and made a cardinal. It was an expression of his love.

“He took Jesus's teachings to people, not just put them in lectures. He has reached out to all kinds of people - women, men, homosexuals, prisoners, everyone. He talked about accepting immigrants.

"The pope used to say the world is a home and it is crying and suffering. He spoke about the environment. He used to tell the world leaders what kind of world they want to leave for future generations."

The top cleric also recalled the message given by Pope Francis to alleviate their suffering after meeting a group of Rohingya refugees during his visit to Bangladesh.

Patrick wrote in a message on Monday that he was heartbroken by the pope's death, saying he would be in spiritual communion with him and with others.

He wrote: “So painful and heart breaking news of the death of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

“He has journeyed with people of God and with us fulfilling the mission he has received after the example of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ who came, did his mission, suffered and died and rose from the dead.

“Holy Father has celebrated Easter with us and now is passing to the fullness of Resurrection.”

Highlighting that the pope’s 12 years in office witnessed the "resurrection" of Jesus Christ both in the church and in the world community, Patrick said: “Let the Merciful God embrace him in his bosom and shower upon the church all the blessings needed in our journey together.”

Noting his treatment, he said: “During my heart treatment from 7th April until today I have been journeying spiritually motivated by the examples he set during the period of his sickness in the hospital and of convalescence.”

Extending his thanks for the invitation to join the gathering of the College of Cardinals that began on Tuesday, Patrick wrote: “I wish I could join my brother Cardinals and to pay my personal respect, admiration and gratitude for the departed Holy Father.

“But my health does not permit me to travel now. I will be in spiritual communion with him and with others. I will also be in communion with the College of Cardinals and the members of the Conclave.”

He also wrote to pray for the sincere discernment of the path shown by Pope Francis in the conclave and other formalities.

At the end, he prayed: “God the Father, manifest your will and plan for the church. Guide her at the critical situation of the world, which your servant Pope Francis discerned and let people know even in the Easter Day Message.”

UNABLE TO ATTEND CONCLAVE DUE TO HEALTH CONDITION

Patrick, the emeritus Archbishop of Dhaka, is the first Bangladeshi who had a chance to join in the formalities of electing a new pope after the death of Pope Francis.

But he couldn't make it because of his health condition.

He told bdnews24.com that a pacemaker had recently been implanted in his heart. He is now resting at home.

After the death of a pope, the elaborate religious and other ceremonies of his funeral are accompanied by the historical formalities of the next papal election.

Cardinals from around the world attend the ceremony in Vatican City. People under the age of 80 can vote at the conclave. Those who are above this age, even if they do not have the right to vote, have the opportunity to participate in the debate.

After becoming a cardinal in 2016, Patrick said that the church in Bangladesh received the right in the papal election process for the first time. When someone from a country is nominated as a cardinal, it is an honour for that country. It's a record. This is a recognition, which is given by the cleric himself."

Noting his inability to join the event when the opportunity came, Patrick said: “It happens in two parts. First, there is a week-long discussion of how the pope should be which began on Tuesday. I was invited there. But I’m unable to travel due to my physical condition.

“In the main conclave in the second phase, a total of 135 people under the age of 80 will take part in the voting. I'm over 81 and don't have a chance to be there."

Born on Oct 1, 1943 in Barisah’s Padrishibpur, Patrick D'Rozario became a priest in 1972 under the Society of the Holy Cross after a long training in multiple seminaries.

He served as Bishop of Rajshahi from 1990 to 1995 and Bishop of Chittagong from 1995 to 2011.

He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dhaka in November 2010 by then Pope Benedict XVI.

In October 2011, he succeeded Archbishop Paulinus Costa as Archbishop of Dhaka. He is also the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh.