Cardinal Czerny Visits Rohingya Refugee Camp in Bangladesh, Offers Hope and Solidarity

Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, has completed a five-day pastoral visit to Bangladesh, where he spent time with Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s Bazar, one of the largest refugee camps in the world. The visit, which took place from November 1 to 4, was part of his ongoing mission to promote compassion, human dignity, and care for displaced people around the world.

Cardinal Czerny was accompanied by Archbishop Kevin Randall, the Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh, and Fr. Liton Hubert Gomes, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB). The delegation was warmly received by Archbishop Lawrence Subrata Howlader and the team from Caritas Bangladesh, which plays a leading role in supporting refugees across the country.

Cox’s Bazar is home to more than 1.1 million people, the majority of them Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in neighboring Myanmar. Roughly half of the camp’s population are children, many of whom were born in exile and have never known life outside the sprawling network of shelters. Bangladesh first began hosting Rohingya refugees in the 1970s, but the influx surged dramatically in 2017 following a wave of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

During his visit, Cardinal Czerny toured several Caritas Bangladesh projects that provide essential services to the refugee community. These include programs in health, education, and human rights, as well as after-school learning, vocational training, and environmental sustainability initiatives. He visited classrooms, met with children and teachers, and spent time with refugee families. The cardinal also joined an interreligious prayer gathering, underscoring the importance of solidarity among different faiths in times of crisis.

“Caritas Bangladesh has shown extraordinary commitment in serving those who have lost everything,” Cardinal Czerny said during his visit. “These programs are not only about survival but about restoring dignity and hope to the Rohingya people.”

Following his time in Cox’s Bazar, the cardinal traveled to Dhaka for a series of meetings and pastoral visits. He met with the bishops of Bangladesh and members of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace, which is marking its 50th anniversary this year. He praised their long-standing work in promoting social justice, human rights, and pastoral care for vulnerable communities.

In Morandangur, Modonpur, Narayanganj, Cardinal Czerny visited the Peter Bhaban Credit Union Center, which supports migrant Christian and indigenous families through education, job training, and faith-based community programs. There, he celebrated a special Jubilee of Migrants Mass attended by more than 600 people.

On All Souls’ Day, the cardinal presided over a Mass at Holy Rosary Church, Bangladesh’s largest Catholic parish, with a congregation of about 5,000 people. The service concluded with a candlelight procession to the nearby cemetery, where participants prayed for the faithful departed.

Throughout his visit, Cardinal Czerny emphasized the Church’s call to accompany migrants and refugees with compassion and practical support. “Our shared humanity demands that we see beyond borders,” he said. “Every refugee, every migrant, is a reminder that our faith is lived through love and service to others.”