Rome, Apr 27 (V7N) — Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, met with several prominent figures in Rome, including Cardinal George Jacob Kuvakkad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, and Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin, during his visit to the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis.

Cardinal Kuvakkad and Professor Yunus held discussions at a hotel in Rome, furthering dialogue on interreligious cooperation. The meeting with Foreign Minister Lubetkin also took place on Saturday, April 26.

Earlier, Professor Yunus attended the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, marking a significant moment of global reflection.

During his time at the Vatican, Professor Yunus had the opportunity to exchange greetings with a host of world leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, former US President Joe Biden, Finnish President Alexander Stubbs, and Kenyan President Montenegro.

Other dignitaries who met the Chief Adviser included the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Presidents of Ecuador and East Timor, the Prime Ministers of Honduras, Iceland, and Belgium, as well as the King and Queen of Belgium, and Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Additionally, Professor Yunus had brief exchanges with world leaders such as Prime Minister of Tunisia, Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. Foreign Ministers from Sri Lanka, Bahrain, and Syria, alongside former US Secretary of State John Kerry, were also present during the funeral and subsequent meetings.

These interactions underscore the continued international recognition of Bangladesh's leadership on the global stage, with Professor Yunus continuing to represent the nation in key diplomatic and intergovernmental engagements.

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