Pope arrives in Sri Lanka, calls for reconciliation following civil war
January 13, 2015
Following a lengthy flight, Pope Francis arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on the first full day of his apostolic journey to Asia. The Pontiff will spend three days in Sri Lanka and four in the Philippines.
Buddhism is the official religion of the South Asian nation of 21 million; nearly 70% of Sri Lankans are Buddhist, while 8% are Muslim, 7% are Hindu, and 7% are Catholic.
The Church in Sri Lanka has 1.5 million Catholics, 428 parishes, 1,286 priests, 2,660 sisters, and 480 seminarians, according to recent Vatican statistics.
Greeted by President Maithripala Sirisena, who assumed office on January 9, Pope Francis said that “my visit to Sri Lanka is primarily pastoral. As the universal pastor of the Catholic Church, I have come to meet, encourage and pray with the Catholic people of this island. A highlight of this visit will be the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz, whose example of Christian charity and respect for all people, regardless of ethnicity or religion, continues to inspire and teach us today.”
Referring to the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009), which claimed at least 60,000 lives, the Pope said that “Sri Lanka for many years knew the horrors of civil strife, and is now seeking to consolidate peace and to heal the scars of those years. It is no easy task to overcome the bitter legacy of injustices, hostility and mistrust left by the conflict. It can only be done by overcoming evil with good and by cultivating those virtues which foster reconciliation, solidarity and peace.”
“The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity,” he added, as he called upon Sri Lankans “to accept one another, to respect legitimate diversities, and learn to live as one family.”
Later on January 13, Pope Francis will meet with the nation’s bishops, visit the nation’s president, and take part in an interreligious gathering.
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Further information:
- Pope Francis: arrival speech in Sri Lanka (Vatican Radio)
- Pope In Sri Lanka - Welcome Ceremony 2015.01.13 (Vatican YouTube)
- Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Francis to Sri Lanka and the Philippines (Holy See Press Office)
- Pope heads for Sri Lanka on 7th international journey (CWN, 1/12)
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