Pope heads for Sri Lanka on 7th international journey
January 12, 2015
Pope Francis left Rome on Monday evening, January 12, to begin a week-long trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
The papal flight will arrive in Sri Lanka on Tuesday morning, local time. He will preside at the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz on January 14, then continue the following day to Manila. He will return to Rome on January 19.
The Pope will arrive in Sri Lanka shortly after elections that resulted in a change in government leadership. Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo pointed out the oddity that in each case when a Roman Pontiff has visited the country—Popes Paul, John Paul II, and Francis—“the government that invited is not the government to receive him.”
Cardinal Ranjith said that he hoped the timing of the Pope’s visit will help to spur the new government in its work of reconciliation after a 30-year civil war.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
