Dhaka: Catholic community welcomes new apostolic nuncio

US-born Mgr Kevin Rondall arrived in the country at the end of November and presented his credentials to the president on 7 December. At the weekend, the first Mass was celebrated together with the archbishop of the capital. In his homily, the Vatican representative recalled his commitment to the needy and the importance of dialogue in a nation with a Muslim majority.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - "When we love and help people in need, the most neglected, we love and help God. When we feed hungry people, we feed God himself," with these words the new apostolic nuncio to Bangladesh, Msgr. Kevin Rondall greeted the community of faithful in the first mass celebrated since his inauguration following the appointment of Pope Francis on August 13th.

In the homily, the American-born prelate, addressing the over 500 faithful present, renewed his task of being a source and inspiration of love between people of all faiths, even more important and urgent in the Asian country with a large Muslim majority.

The Vatican representative entered Bangladesh on 23 November and, on 7 December, presented his credentials to the head of state Shahabuddin Chuppu, in the presidential headquarters in the capital. The first mass, concelebrated with the archbishop of Dhaka Msgr. Bejoy N. D'Cruze and other prelates of the country, took place on December 15th, followed by an official reception organized at St. Mary's Cathedral.

“God lives in Bangladesh” Msgr. Rondall, continued in the sermon, addressing the faithful, adding that “every time we look for him, we can find him” because he “lives in the Bible and in the Eucharist”. “And also in the people,” he concluded, “because God created human beings in his image.”

Bishop Kevin Randall was born in New London, United States, on May 6, 1966. He was ordained a priest on July 25, 1992, incardinating in the Diocese of Norwich and graduated in Canon Law. The prelate entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 2001, over time working in the apostolic nunciature in Rwanda, Serbia, Slovenia, Peru, South Africa, Mexico and Austria.

The Catholic Church of Bangladesh welcomed the archbishop after 15 months of vacancy in office, succeeding his predecessor Msgr. George Kocherry who served as apostolic nuncio to Bangladesh for 10 years until 22 August 2022.

Gerald Rodrigues, Catholic and former teacher at Holy Cross College in Dhaka, addressing the new Vatican representative underlines that the community is "very happy to have her with we. We thank Pope Francis for having appointed a wise and capable person." The Catholic leader then hoped that Msgr. Rondall can "understand the feelings" of the faithful of Bangladesh and "effectively carry out" his apostolic work, as well as "contribute more to the socio-economic development of this country".

The archbishop of Dhaka and president of the Bangladesh Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Bejoy N. D'Cruze, underlined how the new nuncio immediately gained the attention and appreciation of the bishops, presenting his credentials to them.

Applauding the organization of the welcome and the initiatives promoted for his arrival, the nuncio finally blessed the faithful present and expressed the hope of being able to begin visits to the various dioceses of the country soon, to meet and get to know the Catholic community better .