Pope Francis greets a young Rohingya refugee from Myanmar. Expectations are high among refugees in makeshift camps in Cox’s Bazar days after Pope Francis met with 16 Rohingya refugees in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
On his way back to the Vatican, the Pontiff admitted he wept during his encounter with the Muslim refugees who have fled from religious persecution in Myanmar›s neighbouring Rakhine State. “I have told the Pope about what we have been through,” 25-year old Sayeda Khatun said in the Rohingya language days after the meeting.
She said Pope Francis assured her that “he would do everything possible to help us and to bring a peaceful solution” to the conflict in their homeland.
In an earlier interview after meeting the Pope, the refugees said the pontiff promised to convince world leaders to help ease the tension in Rakhine State.
Justice
Foyez Ali Majhi whose village was razed to the ground by soldiers said the Pope assured them that he would try to help get justice for the Rohingya.
According to the refugees, Pope Francis promised to convince world leaders to help facilitate an end to the persecution of the minority group, who number about 1.1 million.
He also vowed to tell the stories of their persecution on the international stage as he reiterated his appeal for continuous support for those living in refugee camps.
Muhammad Abu Sayed, one of the leaders at the Nayapara refugee camp who met the Pope, said people were eager to hear about their meeting.
The 35-year-old from Maungdaw in Rakhine said the Pope, aside from promising prayers, vowed to “work with world leaders and do whatever possible” to help the Rohingya.