Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus returned to Dhaka early Monday, completing a week-long trip that included official engagements in Doha, Qatar, and a visit to Rome, Italy. He arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a commercial flight at 3 a.m. following a trip that saw him attend Pope Francis’s funeral mass at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Saturday.
Accompanied by SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, Prof. Yunus paid tribute to Pope Francis, whom he described as an “amazing” individual. Prof. Yunus departed Rome on Sunday, just a day after attending the poignant funeral service.
Before heading to Rome, Prof. Yunus spent four days in Doha, where he attended the Earthna Summit and held discussions with Qatari leaders, including Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
In Rome, Prof. Yunus was joined by two senior Catholic Church leaders, Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi and Cardinal Jacob Koovakad, who both praised his efforts in the fight against poverty. The cardinals reflected on Pope Francis’s lifelong commitment to aiding the poor and marginalized, as well as his calls for global peace and disarmament.
Reflecting on his long association with Pope Francis, Prof. Yunus fondly remembered their frequent meetings and recalled the publication of a critical letter he had written about the Vatican Bank’s reform, which was featured on the front page of the Vatican’s official newspaper. He also mentioned the Pope’s appointment of him to lead committees focused on banking reform and pro-poor initiatives, including the launch of the Pope Francis–Yunus Three Zero Clubs aimed at achieving zero unemployment, zero wealth concentration, and zero carbon emissions.
Prof. Yunus, a Muslim, expressed his admiration for Pope Francis’s inclusive attitude, noting that despite their different faiths, the Pope always supported their shared work. He also reflected on being honored with the Torch of St. Francis of Assisi by the Catholic Church, an accolade recognizing his embodiment of the spirit of the 13th-century saint.
During his visit, Prof. Yunus held significant meetings with the two cardinals. Cardinal Tomasi, a former Permanent Observer of the Holy See at the UN, spoke of his recent visit to Southeast Asia and praised Pope Francis’s efforts to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Both leaders agreed on the importance of fostering peace in the region and beyond. Prof. Yunus also praised Vietnam’s impressive economic growth, expressing Bangladesh’s goal of emulating Vietnam’s success.
Cardinal Koovakad, who heads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, shared plans for an interfaith dialogue in Bangladesh later this year. Prof. Yunus emphasized the importance of interfaith discussions in maintaining religious harmony in Bangladesh, highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting citizens’ rights regardless of background.
As the Catholic Church prepares for the election of a new Pope, Cardinal Tomasi and Cardinal Koovakad expressed hope that the next pontiff would continue Pope Francis’s mission of promoting peace and dialogue.
