Covid-19: Abp. Moses Costa of Chittagong has died

A month ago he contracted Covid-19. His death follows a rapid deterioration in the past 48 hours. Abp. Costa was secretary of the Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh and responsible for youth ministry. The condolences of Sr Prema, of the Missionaries of Charity, and of the Movement of Catholic students.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Archbishop Moses M. Costa of Chittagong died this morning at 9.20 in the capital's Square Hospital, where he had been hospitalized a month ago because of the coronavirus.

The news was released by the president of the bishops of Bangladesh, Card. Patrick D’Rozario.

In the announcement "with great sadness and a sense of loss", Card. D'Rozario explains that his confrere died following "a series of strokes caused by cerebral hemorrhage". This pathology in all probability results from Covid-19 infection.

After hospitalization and confirmation of coronavirus infection, Msgr. Costa had improved. But later on, despite testing negative for Covid-19, his situation deteriorated. For the past 48 hours he was in intensive care.

The date of the funeral is still unknown. But today there will be suffrage masses in the parish of Tejgaon (Dhaka) at 12.30 and in the parish of Tumilia (Gazipur), where he was born.

Among the first to express condolences eas Sr Prema, superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, through Msgr. Thomas D’Souza, Archbishop of Kolkata. “I knew  that he was critically ill - said mother Prema - I am very sorry to hear that he is dead. Archbishop Costa was very good towards the Missionaries of Charity who work in his archdiocese in Chittagong. I prayed for him when he was sick. Now that he is dead, I recommend him to the Lord and I am sure that God will give him a magnificent reward, because he was an excellent, committed shepherd to his people."

Monsignor Costa was 70 years old. In 1981 he became a priest in the Holy Cross congregation, which is widespread in Bangladesh. He became bishop of Chittagong in 2011. In 2017 Pope Francis appointed him archbishop of the metropolitan diocese of Chittagong, giving him the pallium. The archdiocese of Chittagong has about 30 thousand faithful, distributed in 11 parishes. Most Catholics are tribal.

Archbishop Costa was secretary of the Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh and responsible for youth ministry.

The Catholic Student Movement has issued a message of condolence in which it is emphasized that "the family of Bangladeshi Catholics loses one of its most important custodians. He has been an active supporter of youth activities throughout his life, The Movement prays for his soul to rest in eternal peace."

( Nirmala Carvalho contributed)

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