Bangladesh archbishop
critically ill with Covid-19
 |
| Archbishop Moses Costa of Chittagong, Bangladesh |
Catholics are praying for Archbishop Costa of Chittagong
after he was hospitalized in Dhaka on June 13 with Covid-19.
By Robin Gomes
Archbishop Moses Costa of Chittagong is the first known case
among Bangladesh’s senior Catholic clergy to be infected with the novel
coronavirus.
The archbishop has been admitted to Square Hospital, Father
Leonard Rebeiro, vicar general of the archdiocese said in a statement on
Sunday. He was flown by helicopter from the south-eastern port city
of Chittagong to Dhaka on Saturday.
Prayers urged
“Dear clergy, religious and lay faithful, Archbishop Moses
M. Costa of Chittagong was admitted to Square Hospital with serious ailments on
June 13,” Saturday, he said. “During admission, his sample was collected for a
Covid-19 test and the report came positive today,” Father Rebeiro said.
The vicar general also made an announcement regarding the
archbishop’s condition at the start of a Mass live-streamed on Sunday, the
solemn feast of Corpus Christi, or the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
He offered the Mass for the archbishop’s recovery and
requested all to pray for him.
The news about Archbishop Costa’s critical condition spread
quickly across Bangladesh’s tiny Catholic community, both at home and
abroad. Many expressed their closeness with the archbishop, assuring and
inviting prayers for his recovery.
Bangladesh Catholic Students' Movement (BCSM) said its
members are praying “for his speedy recovery”.
69-year-old Archbishop Costa, a member of the Congregation
of Holy Cross, is secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
Bangladesh (CBCB) and he is also chairman of its Commission for Health Care.
Saint Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Dinajpur in
1996 and in 2011 Pope Benedict XVI transferred him to Chittagong. Pope Francis
elevated Chittagong Diocese to the rank of archdiocese in 2017, making Bishop
Costa its Archbishop.
Covid-19 in Bangladesh
Bangladesh on Tuesday confirmed 53 more fatalities from
COVID-19, bringing the country's death toll to 1,262. The number of
confirmed infections in the country has totalled more than 94,000.
More than 30 people from the minority Christian community of
Bangladesh have been infected and 5 have died in recent weeks.
Chittagong, officially known as Chattogram, is the country's
second-largest city and a major financial hub. It has seen a rapid
increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks. Its Kotwali area has been marked
as a hot spot.
Lockdown
Chittagong Archdiocese was among the first of the eight
Catholic dioceses in Bangladesh to issue Covid-19 health guidelines and closed
all churches for public services even before the government declared a
nationwide shutdown from March 26.
An official from Chittagong Archdiocese told UCA News he was
shocked to hear that Archbishop Costa who has been maintaining strict lockdown
measures since March, was hit by the virus.
All Chittagong Archdiocesan staff have been advised to stay
in isolation at home and to continue working from home, the official
added.
Bangladesh began easing Covid-19 restrictions on May 31 and
since then all dioceses except Chittagong have opened churches for public
worship including Masses.
Aiming to kick-start a crumbling economy, Bangladesh has
allowed the reopening of public transport, businesses, public and private
offices on a limited scale maintaining strict health protocols, most
importantly physical distancing. Only education institutes remain
closed. (Source: UCA news)
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