Dhaka, April 23 -- As a result of Pope Francis' initiative to diversify the church and take it to the people, Muslim-majority Bangladesh had received its first cardinal.

The pope appointed Patrick D'Rozario to the College of Cardinals in the country of about half a million Christians, about 0.3 percent of the population.

Cardinal Patrick also recalled the role of Pope Francis in bringing the church closer to the people mourning his departure. He said, "He was not only a person of the church, but one for the entire humanity."

Pope Francis made Patrick a cardinal in 2016, three years after he became Roman Catholics' top cleric in 2013. At that time, he was the Archbishop of Dhaka.

Patrick was elevated to the cardinalate on Oct 9, 2016. ...