Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus left Qatar for the Vatican at 9:25 am (12:25 pm BST) today to attend the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis.

He was seen off at Hamad International Airport by the Chief of Protocol of Qatar, Ibrahim bin Yousif Abdullah Fakhroo.

According to Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, the Chief Adviser is expected to arrive in Rome by 2:15 pm (local time), where he will be received by the Ambassadors of Bangladesh to Italy and the Vatican.

At 3:15 pm, Professor Yunus will visit St. Peter’s Square to pay homage to the late Pope, where he will be officially greeted by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Vicar General for Vatican City.

On Saturday morning, the Chief Adviser will attend the Funeral Mass, and he is scheduled to depart Rome on Sunday at 8:00 am (12:00 pm BST), arriving in Dhaka early Monday.

BDST: 1345 HRS, APR 25, 2025
MN