Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, has visited the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Source: CNA.
The cardinal last week concluded a five-day pastoral visit with migrants and displaced Catholics under the theme “Raising Hope to Foster a Culture of Care”.
From November 1–5, he met with internally displaced Catholics near Dhaka and visited Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar, highlighting urgent issues of migration, poverty, and social justice.
Bangladesh hosts two vulnerable communities: approximately 50,000 internally displaced Catholics in Dhaka and Narayanganj, and nearly 1.1 million Rohingya refugees and migrants in Cox’s Bazar — considered the largest refugee camp in the world.
The visit sought to affirm the Church’s solidarity with these groups and encourage collaboration among Church leaders, government agencies, and humanitarian organizations.
On November 2, Cardinal Czerny celebrated Mass with more than 600 Catholics in Modonpur, Narayanganj, an industrial area where many migrants from rural Bangladesh live in precarious conditions. Many have fled their ancestral villages seeking better livelihoods, often working in factories under difficult circumstances.
“You are poor, but you gather to worship God,” Cardinal Czerny told the faithful. “As you pray, God will answer your prayers. You will be blessed.”
During his homily, Cardinal Czerny praised those who serve migrants and refugees: “Communities that welcome migrants can be a living witness to hope – a promise of a present and future where the dignity of all as children of God is recognised.”
On November 3, Cardinal Czerny travelled to Cox’s Bazar to visit the Rohingya who fled violence in Myanmar.
During a tour of Caritas Bangladesh’s humanitarian programs, he expressed concern about dwindling global support.
“The situation is very difficult, with funding cuts and less attention from the world,” Cardinal Czerny said during his visit to the migrant camp.
“The world should show more solidarity, not less. All organizations – Christian and others — must respond to real needs and continue to support those who suffer.”
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Cardinal Czerny brings message of hope to Rohingya in Bangladesh (By Sumon Corraya, CNA)
