Warm Sri Lankan welcome awaits Pope

Thursday, 8 January 2015 01:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

On the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, His Holiness Pope Francis will pay a State visit to Sri Lanka from 13-15 January. “The Government and people of Sri Lanka are looking forward to warmly welcoming His Holiness and his delegation,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

All arrangements for the visit are in place and required construction is progressing on schedule including the altar at Galle Face Green where the special Mass and canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz will take place on Wednesday 14 January. The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, while reiterating confirmation of the Pope’s visit, outlined the extensive arrangements underway, which will also include a liturgical ceremony at the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu and an inter-faith meeting with leaders of all major religions in Sri Lanka at the BMICH. The Pope will also pray at the Chapel of Our Lady of Lanka in Bolawalana in Negombo. The Ministry of Postal Services and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka will issue a special commemorative stamp and coin to mark his landmark visit. Sri Lanka will be the second Asian country to be visited by Pope Francis and his first destination on the forthcoming apostolic voyage to Asia. The Vatican advance team is due to arrive in Colombo on 9 January for final preparations ahead of the Pope’s visit.