Pope Francis Elevates Archbishop Patrick D'Rozario to Cardinalate

Pope Francis placing the cardinal's biretta (red hat) on Archbishop Patrick D'Rozario, CSC on Nov. 19

 Photo courtesy: www.tkayala.com/

Newly-elevated Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican

Photo courtesy: AFP

Pope Francis on November 19 elevated 17 persons to the status of the cardinal. They come from Albania, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Spain, Venezuela, and the USA. 

He warned the new cardinals of the virus of polarization and animosity, and xenophobia. He also asked them to protect refugees, who are often classed as enemies. "The virus of polarization and animosity permeates our way of thinking, feeling and acting," the pope said. "We are not immune from this and we need to take care lest such attitudes find a place in our hearts, because this would be contrary to the richness and universality of the church, which is tangibly evident in the College of Cardinals."

Archbishop Patrick D'Rozario, CSC, of the Archdiocese of Dhaka is the first cardinal from Bangladesh. He belongs to the Congregation of Holy Cross, that has been working in the Dhaka and Chittagong regions of Bangladesh since 1853. 

Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario, born on October 1, 1043, was ordained priest on October 8, 1972; anointed the bishop of Rajshahi Diocese on September 12, 1990; appointed the bishop of Chittagong Diocese on February 3, 1995; appointed the Coadjutor Archbishop of Dhaka on November 25, 2010; succeeded the Archbishop of Dhaka on October 22, 2011; and named to the cardinalate on November 19, 2016.

For more, please click on the following:

• Pope creates D'Rozario as 1st Bangladeshi Cardinal (Nov. 19, 2016)
• D'Rozario made first Bangladeshi cardinal (Nov. 20, 2016)
• Pope Francis names 17 new cardinals of Roman Catholic Church (Nov. 19, 2016)
• Pope Francis to New Cardinals: Love Your Enemies (Nov. 19, 2016)
• Pope creates 17 new 'progressive' cardinals (Nov. 19, 2016)
• For Bangladesh's new cardinal, papal visit will boost faith (Nov. 19, 2016)
• Creating new cardinals, Francis warns against 'virus of polarization' in the church (Nov. 19, 2016)
• Patrick D'Rozario of Bangladesh among 17 made cardinals (Nov. 20, 2016)
• To 17 New Cardinals, Pope's Job Description: "To Be Merciful In The Heart of The Church" (November 19, 2016)