Msgr. Bejoy D’Cruze is the new archbishop of Dhaka

The announcement was made at 12 in Rome and at 16 in Dhaka. The new pastor succeeds Card. Patrick D’Rozario. Msgr Bejoy, 64, was bishop of Khulna and Sylhet. He is Secretary General of the country's Episcopal Conference.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Msgr Bejoy N. D’Cruze, Omi, has been appointed as the new archbishop of Dhaka. The news was published today in the Holy See Press office bulletin at 12 and in correspondence, Archbishop George Kocherry, nuncio to Bangladesh, published the announcemnt locally at around 16.

Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze, 64, succeeds Card. Patrick D’Rozario, Holy Cross missionary, who will remain as archbishop emeritus. Previously, Msgr. Bejoy was bishop of Sylhet.

AsiaNews has so far not been able to get a comment from the new pastor of Dhaka. On August 14, Msgr. Bejoy was appointed general secretary of the Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh, succeeding Msgr. Moses M Costa, who died of Covid. On that occasion, Msgr Bejoy promised to take on "this responsibility with seriousness and joy. I hope in the blessing of the Most High, so that I can do my job better and with faith".

The new bishop of Dhaka is also president of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity.

Card. D'Rozario released a Facebook message today, announcing his retirement on the day of his 77th year, and announcing the arrival of the new archbishop. "On behalf of the archdiocese - he writes - we congratulate the new archbishop Bijoy Cruze, we welcome him and pray for God abundant blessings for his pastoral ministry in the archdiocese of Dhaka".

The new pastor was born on February 9, 1956 in Puran Tuital (Dhaka). He was ordained a priest on February 20, 1987. He was bishop of Khulna from 2005 to 2011 and then, from September 30, 2011, bishop of Sylhet.

Dhaka's Catholics welcome their Archbishop. Some of them, Patrick Rodrigues and Patricia Pereira, comment on social media: “We wish a peaceful and healthy retirement to His Eminence Patrick D'Rozario, and congratulate the new archbishop of Dhaka, Msgr. Bijoy D'Cruze. May the Almighty bless them abundantly ".