Bangladesh is observing three days of mourning to honor the death of Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and the sovereign of Vatican City.
The national flag will be flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government, and autonomous institutions, educational institutions, and all government and private buildings in Bangladesh, as well as Bangladesh missions abroad, from Thursday to Saturday in observance of the mourning period.
Additionally, special prayers will be held for the soul of Pope Francis.
The decision to declare three days of state mourning was made public in a notification issued by the Cabinet Department on Wednesday.
Pope Francis, the most senior religious leader of the Roman Catholic faith, passed away at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta residence on Monday morning at the age of 88.
Having recently returned to the Vatican after recovering from pneumonia, for which he had spent five weeks in the hospital, Pope Francis had waved to a crowd from a wheelchair at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, wishing them a happy Easter. His death was confirmed the following day.
Argentine priest Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, adopting the name Francis. As the Bishop of Rome, he served as the leader of the global Catholic Church and the sovereign of Vatican City.
He was the first Pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. Over his more than a decade-long tenure, he initiated significant reforms within the Catholic Church and was known for his simple lifestyle, earning him the title of “friend of the poor.”
Pope Francis had visited Bangladesh in 2017. During his visit, he participated in various events held by Christian communities in Kakrail and Tejgaon, and attended an open worship at Suhrawardy Udyan.
In expressing his deep sorrow over the Pope’s death, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus said on Monday, “With his passing, we witness the end of a papal era that was deeply committed to human dignity, interfaith harmony, and justice for the marginalized.”
“His leadership went beyond religious boundaries and inspired millions to work toward a more inclusive, tolerant, and compassionate world,” Yunus added.
He further stated, “I feel honored to have met Pope Francis on several occasions and to have worked closely with him in the pursuit of peace, human dignity, and environmental protection.”
The Pope will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, with his funeral scheduled for Saturday. During this time, world leaders, as well as people from all walks of life, will be able to pay their final respects.
Chief Advisor Yunus, who is currently in Qatar, will fly directly from Doha to Rome to attend the Pope’s funeral.
Shafiqul Alam, the Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary, mentioned, “Professor Yunus had a close personal relationship with Pope Francis. He will attend the funeral to honor his friend and pay his respects.”
