Pope Francis will ordain 16 priests in Bangladesh during his upcoming apostolic visit to the country.
The Pope, who is visiting Myanmar and Bangladesh from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, will ordain the priests on Dec. 1, during an open-air morning mass at Suharawardy Udyan Park in Dhaka.
About 10,000 people are expected to attend the ordination mass, according to Vatican Radio.
The 16 deacons studied at the Holy Spirit Major Seminary, Bangladesh's only seminary.
Jashim Murmu, one of the candidates, belongs to Santal tribe from northern Dinajpur Diocese. He is the first priest of his village.
"The first good news is that Pope Francis is coming to Bangladesh. The second is that he will ordain me a priest," said Murmu.
Another candidate, Gracy Rozario CSC of the Dhaka Archdiocese said he is preparing for the day "with prayers, so I can devote myself to being a perfect and holy priest to preach the message of God."
"For me it is a special blessing to be consecrated by him. For this I give thanks to Almighty God," he told AsiaNews.
The Holy Spirit‎ Major Seminary currently has 400 candidates to priesthood.
