UNB:
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus returned home early Monday, wrapping up his week-long engagements in Rome, Italy and Doha, Qatar.
A commercial flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3am on Monday after joining the funeral mass of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Saturday.
SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, among others, accompanied the Chief Adviser during the funeral of Pope Francis, who, according to Prof Yunus, was an “amazing” human being.
The Chief Adviser left Rome for home on Sunday, a day after joining the funeral mass of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB.
Prof Yunus visited Rome from Doha, Qatar, wrapping up his four-day official visit where he attended the Earthna Summit and had a series of meetings with the Qatari leadership, including the Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
On Friday, the Chief Adviser flew directly to Rome to pay his last respects to his old friend Pope Francis.
Meanwhile, senior leaders of the Catholic Church — Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi and Cardinal Jacob Koovakad — met separately with Prof Yunus on Saturday shortly after the Funeral Mass of Pope Francis.
The two cardinals recalled Pope Francis’s lifelong mission to champion the causes of the poor and marginalised, his efforts to eradicate poverty, and his vision of a world without war or nuclear weapons.
They deeply appreciated Professor Yunus’ work, describing him as a close friend of the late Pope and thanking him for dedicating his life to the fight against poverty.
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Professor Yunus reminisced about his long association with Pope Francis, saying the Pope had the ability to embrace everyone, regardless of their religious background.
Prof Yunus returns home ending his week-long engagements in Doha, Rome
