Dhaka: Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Catholics, asked forgiveness from refugees in Bangladesh for all the hurt and indifference they have endured. He met the community in Bangladesh on Friday and used the term ‘Rohingya’ (politically sensitive name for the persecuted minority) for the first time on an Asia tour. Earlier during his visit in Myanmar he had avoided the term for which he faced criticism.
Pope addressed a group of refugees who were brought to Dhaka from the camps of Cox’s Bazar to meet him. In a deeply moving encounter, Francis greeted and blessed a group of Rohingya Muslim refugees. He grasped their hands and listened to their stories in a show of public solidarity.
Pope apologised the refugees for the “indifference of the world” to their plight.