CA Yunus Leaves Qatar for Vatican to Honor Pope Francis

Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the government, departed Qatar on Friday for Vatican City to attend the funeral of Pope Francis and pay his final respects to the late Pontiff.

Prof Yunus is expected to arrive in Rome at 2:15 PM (local time), where he will be received by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Italy and the Ambassador to Vatican City, according to Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.

The Chief of Protocol of the State of Qatar, Ibrahim bin Yousif Abdullah Fakhroo, formally saw off Prof Yunus at Hamad International Airport in Doha as he left for the Vatican at approximately 12:25 PM (Bangladesh Time).

Upon arrival, Prof Yunus will visit St. Peter’s Square at 3:15 PM to pay tribute to the mortal remains of Pope Francis. He is scheduled to meet His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City, who will officially receive him and the accompanying Bangladeshi delegation.

The Chief Adviser will also attend the Funeral Mass of Pope Francis at 9:30 AM on Saturday at St. Peter’s Square.

Prof Yunus is set to depart Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport at 8:00 AM (12:00 PM Bangladesh Time) on Sunday and is expected to return home early Monday morning.

His visit underscores the deep personal and spiritual connection he shared with Pope Francis, based on a common commitment to peace, compassion, and social justice.

Bangladesh has announced three days of state mourning in honor of Pope Francis following his passing.