While the situation in Bangladesh, where the country has taken in more than 800,000 majority Muslim Rohingya refugees fleeing ethnic cleansing in neighboring Myanmar, and those seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, are undoubtedly different situations, Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., believes there’s a shared lesson to be learned.
When the first wave of Bangladeshi immigrants arrived in the United States in the 1970s, many of them settled in Astoria – one of New York’s most diverse immigrant neighborhoods.
Pope Francis’ call to ‘go into the peripheries’ is real. In his brief pontificate, he has shown his concern for the poor by calling the Church ‘of the poor and for the poor.’ He has drawn the attention of the world leaders and all concerned by declaring Nov. 19 as a day of the world poor.
Pope Francis’ trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh will offer moments to recognize each nation’s struggle for independence, underline interreligious respect and encourage the local minority Catholic communities.
