Pope Francis names new Archbishop for Bangladesh

By Vatican News

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Bejoy Nicephorus D’Cruze, O.M.I., as Archbishop of Dhaka. Bishop D'Cruze has been serving as Bishop of the Diocese of Sylhet.

The Holy Father has also accepted the resignation of Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., who has been Archbishop of Dhaka since 2011.

Biography

Bishop Bejoy Nicephorus D’Cruze was born on Feb. 9, 1956, at Tuital, in Nawabgonj sub-district, which comes under the district of Dhaka.

He was ordained a priest on Feb. 20, 1987. He was superior of the O.M.I. delegation in Bangladesh and professor of the major seminary of Dhaka.

His episcopal ordination was first as the Bishop of Khulna diocese, on May 6, 2005.

Oblate Bishop D’Cruze was appointed bishop of Sylhet on July 8, 2011. His installation took place in Moulvibazar on Sept. 30, 2011. Created on July 8, 2011, Sylhet is the country’s seventh diocese.

The diocese has seven parishes and 11 mission centres, with about 17,000 Catholics served by 21 priests and 33 Religious.

Bishop D’Cruze has had roles as chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB).

The Archdiocese of Dhaka serves 64,960 Catholics. There are 18 parishes and 14 missions, with 115 priests, 695 lay religious and 17 seminarians.