Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass in Bangladesh

Pope Francis, who is on a three-day visit to Bangladesh, celebrated a Holy Mass, a prayer service on Friday at the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. According to The Daily Star, the Holy Mass was attended by more than 80,000 people from around the country.

As per the report, a total of 16 priests were ordained during the ceremony and the people gathered there prayed for bringing peace in the world. 'I know that many of you came from afar, for a trip for more than two days," the Pope told the crowd in his homily. "Thank you for your generosity. This indicates the love you have for the Church," he added.

The Pope is scheduled to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina later today. Yesterday, Pope Francis arrived in Bangladesh after wrapping up his Myanmar visit. Scores of Muslim Rohingya refugees have sought safe haven in Bangladesh after fleeing a military crackdown in Myanmar. Pope Francis, who landed in national capital Dhaka, was accorded a red carpet welcome.

President Abdul Hamid received the Pope near the VVIP Tarmac of Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A contingent of Bangladesh's armed forces gave him a guard of honour and state salute. Pope is also scheduled to visit the National Martyr's Memorial to pay tribute to martyrs of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, reported the Dhaka Tribune.

In Dhaka, he will meet some of the refugees from the Rohingya community, whom he has described as his "brothers and sisters", and lead a mass for Bangladesh's tiny Catholic minority. Francis is the first Pope to visit Bangladesh in 31 years.

-ANI