Patrick D'Rozario
Who was Patrick D'Rozario?
Bangladeshi Catholic cardinal who served as Archbishop of Dhaka and was elevated to cardinal in 2016. He is the first Bangladeshi to hold the rank of cardinal in the Catholic Church.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Patrick D'Rozario (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Patrick D'Rozario, born on October 1, 1943, in Padrishibpur Union, Bangladesh, is a Bangladeshi leader in the Catholic Church and a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross (CSC). He is noteworthy as the first Roman Catholic cardinal from Bangladesh, a title given to him by Pope Francis in November 2016. His becoming a cardinal was a key moment for the Catholic Church in Bangladesh and the wider Catholic community in South Asia.
Before Fame
Patrick D'Rozario was born in 1943 in Padrishibpur Union, which was then part of British India, later became East Pakistan, and eventually Bangladesh. He received his religious education at Christ the King Seminary, where he learned about the Catholic Church and prepared to become a priest. Growing up in a region that experienced the partition of British India in 1947 and Bangladesh's liberation in 1971, D'Rozario's calling developed amid significant political and social changes. His dedication to religious life within the Congregation of Holy Cross provided stability during these times, and he gradually advanced through the church ranks over several decades of service.
Key Achievements
- Became the first Roman Catholic cardinal from Bangladesh following his appointment by Pope Francis in 2016.
- Served as Archbishop of Dhaka from 2012 to 2020, overseeing the central Catholic archdiocese in Bangladesh.
- Led multiple dioceses in Bangladesh between 1995 and 2010, contributing to the growth and organization of the Catholic Church in the country.
- Represented Bangladesh and the South Asian Catholic community at the international level through his membership in the College of Cardinals.
- Served as a prominent voice for religious minorities in Bangladesh throughout his decades of ecclesiastical leadership.
Did You Know?
- 01.Patrick D'Rozario is the first and, as of his elevation, only Roman Catholic cardinal ever appointed from Bangladesh.
- 02.He was elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of November 19, 2016, receiving the title of Cardinal-Priest.
- 03.D'Rozario served as Archbishop of Dhaka from 2012 to 2020, leading the most prominent Catholic diocese in Bangladesh.
- 04.Before becoming Archbishop of Dhaka, he led other dioceses in Bangladesh from 1995 to 2010, giving him extensive experience across the country's Catholic communities.
- 05.He is a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, an international Catholic religious order with a strong presence in South Asia and notable for founding the University of Notre Dame in the United States.