Bangladesh gets first Catholic cardinal

Archbishop of the archdiocese of Dhaka, Patrick D'Rozario, has been selected as cardinal by Pope Francis on Sunday.

Pope Francis announced elevation of 17 Roman Catholic prelates to the high rank of cardinal, including 13 who are under 80 years old and thus eligible to enter a conclave that will one day choose his successor, reports Reuters.

Cardinals are the most senior members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy after the pope. Each time a pope names new cardinals he puts his stamp on the future of the 1.2-billion-member global church.

Francis, making the surprise announcement during his weekly Sunday address, said the men came from five continents and that the ceremony to elevate them, known as a consistory, would be held on November 19.

It is the third time Francis has appointed new cardinals since his election in 2013 as the first non-European pontiff in 1,300 years.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net