VATICAN CITY (UCAN) -- Pope Benedict has praised Bangladeshi Catholics' great service, especially in education and health care, and said they have "much to offer the nation" as "promoters of harmony and peace."

Speaking to their bishops, he encouraged them to continue this service and also to "persevere" in dialogue with followers of other religions while courageously announcing "the Good News of Christ Jesus." He urged them to follow the example of "many dedicated missionaries, beginning with Saint Francis Xavier," who brought the Gospel to Bangladesh.

The pope addressed the country's seven active bishops as a group in his private Vatican library on June 12, during their ad limina visit to the See of Peter. Earlier he met them in private audiences.

Archbishop Paulinus Costa of Dhaka, president of the bishops' conference, agreed their Church is "a little flock." Close to 90 percent of Bangladesh's 150 million people are Muslims, and most of the rest are Hindus. Smaller Buddhist and adivasi (tribal) communities exist in the country along with about 300,000 Catholics and 100,000 other Christians.

The local Church leader thanked the pope for appealing to the world to assist Bangladesh after Cyclone Sidr struck in November 2007, observing that the land often hit by floods and cyclones "is always re-rising afresh."

The people of Bangladesh, with their "simple religiosity," are able to "endure sufferings of many deprivations" while remaining "resilient and steadfast, trusting in God," he explained. Their lives "bear witness to a culture of poverty of the Gospel."

The archbishop said the Catholic community is "one with the nation," which faces "many challenges and struggles," and seeks to serve it. Catholics are praying and hope the country can "progress into good democratic governance," he added, alluding to the general election scheduled for December.

"Our small Church is happy to serve the nation in the field of education," he told the pope. He also cited health services include HIV/AIDS treatment and "extensive charitable work, especially through Caritas Bangladesh."

Speaking to UCA News in Rome, he said the Bangladeshi Church runs 500 primary schools teaching 30,000 children; 90 high schools educating 40,000 mostly Muslim students and three colleges providing advanced schooling for 20,000 students. It also operates three hospitals, and dispensaries in all 56 parishes handle 12,000 people a year each, on average, he said.

Summarizing Catholic life in Bangladesh, the archbishop told the pope believers are devoted to the Eucharist, appreciate family life and "dialogue with the other religions, especially Muslims."

Pope Benedict, in response, praised the bishops' pastoral attentiveness and unity. He joined them in thanking God "for the growth and fervor of the Catholic community in Bangladesh," even when "so many of them suffer from poverty, isolation or discrimination."

He commended the bishops' promotion of "lay catechists," 1,500 of them, who "play an integral role in preparing laypeople to receive the sacraments."

Likewise, he rejoiced at "the many vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life," and commended efforts to ensure them "suitable formation."

The national major seminary in Dhaka has 94 students, and the 7 minor seminaries around 400 candidates, Archbishop Costa told UCA News.

Pope Benedict noted the Church is not tied to "any one culture or particular social, economic or political system," and "at the service of the entire human family," able to foster unity.

"As promoters of harmony and peace," he said, Bangladesh's Catholics "have much to offer the nation." They can inspire "tolerance, moderation and understanding," and encourage people "who share important values to cooperate for the common good."

He urged the bishops "to continue to sustain and counsel Catholic laypeople and all who wish to offer their service for the good of society."

Commending their initiatives in interreligious dialogue, the theologian pope exhorted them "to persevere with patient dedication to this essential component of the Church's mission." But he also reminded them, "The most important contribution we can bring to interreligious dialogue is our knowledge of Jesus of Nazareth."

This "delicate task" of dialogue, he insisted, "requires thorough preparation of clergy and laypeople," one that enables them to gain "a deeper knowledge of their own faith" as well as "grow in understanding of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and the other religions."

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