Pope says sorry to Rohingya

Presence of God is called Rohingya - pope (3)

Meets 16 refugees in Dhaka

Rohingya Refugees waiting to meet with Pope Francis in Dhaka

By Redazione ANSA

(ANSA) - Dhaka, December 1 - Pope Francis told 16 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Dhaka Friday that "the presence of God today is also called Rohingya," using a word he had studiously avoided on his recent trip to Myanmar. It was the first time the pope had used the term Rohingya on his Asia trip, and he did so in a very strong theological way. After the meeting with the pope, some of the Rohingyas cried, witnesses said.

The 16, three families from the Cox Bazar refugee camp, were 12 men and boys, two women and two girls.

The pope caressed the children and shook the hand of one of the women.

Francis met the group of Rohingyas at the archbishop's palace in the Bangladeshi capital.

Don't miss to read: Pope seeks forgiveness from Rohingya Muslim refugees: http://dailym.ai/2kgYJZ4

He told them "I ask your forgiveness for the indifference of the world" to their plight in fleeing brutality and rape in Myanmar. Francis said "I am close to you, the situation is very hard".

He also said "let's not turn away" from it.

Some 620,000 Rohingyas, who are Muslims originally from Bangladesh, have fled there after a campaign of repression that has spurred a wave of world condemnation, including from the pope.

But on the advice of the local Catholic Church he avoided using the term Rohingya on his three-day trip to Myanmar earlier this week.

Myanmar objects to the term because the Rohingyas are not. among the country's officially recognised minorities.
==========

RohingyaActivist tweeted while Pope uttered “Rohingya” in Dhaka:

"I don't know we should thank to #PopeFrancis or not, for calling us "#Rohingya" in #Bangladesh but I should say him "Lack of Braveness to utter truth or coward or bias" for not uttering #Rohingya while in #Myanmar" #MirSdq https://t.co/4Z3Vz3Vlwt