Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario is the first cardinal from Bangladesh in the history of the Church.

Born on October 1, 1943, in Padrishibpur, a village in the diocese of Chittagong, his parents were Michael Ningel D’Rozario, known as “shadhu” (a saintly person), and Dispina D’Rozario. The family relied on farming for their livelihood.

D’Rozario received his primary education at St. Alfred School in his home parish, where he excelled as a bright and attentive student. He completed his SSC exams with honors in 1961, followed by I.A. and B.A. studies at Notre Dame College, Dhaka, in 1964 and 1966 respectively. During this time, he also completed his novitiate with the Congregation of Holy Cross, making his First Profession on June 14, 1962.

His theological education continued at Christ the King Seminary in Karachi, where he completed his philosophical and theological studies. On January 8, 1972, D’Rozario was ordained priest in his home parish by Bishop Joachim Rozario CSC.

D’Rozario’s early career included roles as Assistant Pastor at Gournadi parish and Director of the Gournadi CORR project. He furthered his education by completing a Licentiate in Moral Theology in Leuven, Belgium, from 1973 to 1976. Upon returning to Bangladesh, he served as a professor of Moral Theology at the National Major Seminary in Dhaka and held various positions at Notre Dame College.

His episcopal journey began on May 21, 1990, when he was appointed the first Bishop of Rajshahi. He was then transferred to the see of Chittagong on February 3, 1995. On November 25, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as coadjutor bishop of Dhaka, and he succeeded to the metropolitan see on October 22, 2011.

D’Rozario served as president of the Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh from December 2011 and participated in the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the family in October 2014.

Pope Francis created and proclaimed him Cardinal in November 2016, making him Bangladesh’s first cardinal. His titular church is Nostra Signora del SS. Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi.

Cardinal D’Rozario retired as Archbishop of Dhaka on November 27, 2020.