The Catholic bishops of Bangladesh concluded their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit to the Vatican on June 27, 2026, reaffirming their union with the Holy father and commitment to pastoral care of the local churches.
A central highlight of the week-long visit, held from June 22 to 27 was the meeting with Pope Leo XIV on June 25. During this time, the bishops presented reports on the pastoral, spiritual, educational, social, and administrative life of their respective dioceses. They also discussed the challenges facing the Church in Bangladesh and shared their priorities for future pastoral ministry.
In a message shared on Facebook, Archbishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze, OMI of Dhaka, who is also the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh, expressed gratitude for the spiritual fruits of the pilgrimage.
"We are happy to inform you that we completed our Ad Limina visit on June 27, 2026," Archbishop Bejoy wrote. "We began this pilgrimage on June 22 by celebrating the Holy Mass at the tomb of Saint Peter, where we renewed our faith and commitment. It was Saint Peter who publicly proclaimed Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. This is the same faith that we profess, proclaim, and faithfully preserve."
The archbishop noted that, besides meeting the Holy Father, the bishops visited several Vatican Dicasteries and the Secretariat of State. They also celebrated Holy Mass and made pilgrimages to the Major Basilicas of Rome, including Saint John Lateran, Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and Saint Mary Major, where they prayed for the people of Bangladesh.
Prior to the official visit, the bishops participated in a three-day spiritual retreat at the House of the Opera della Chiesa in Florence, central Italy, preparing themselves through prayer and reflection.
"We thank God for this fruitful Ad Limina visit and for the many blessings we have received," the archbishop concluded.
The last Ad Limina Apostolorum visit by the bishops of Bangladesh was conducted in May 2018 under the leadership of Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario, Archbishop Emeritus of Dhaka.
