Joseph Vaz canonised as Sri Lanka’s first Saint

Friday, 16 January 2015 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

His Holiness Pope Francis on Wednesday canonised Blessed Joseph Vaz, the first Saint of Sri Lanka at the Holy Mass held at the Galle Face Green, Colombo.

Christians and non-Christians alike gathered at Galle Face Green to witness the canonisation of Joseph Vaz by Pope Francis. Seen here is a statue positioned at the makeshift altar - Pic by Daminda Harsha Perera “Saint Joseph shows us the importance of transcending religious divisions in the service of peace,” the Pontiff said. The Pope said Christians should follow the example of Joseph Vaz to build peace, justice and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Joseph Vaz, who was captured as a suspected spy after he came into Sri Lanka in disguise was born in 1651 in India’s Goa, then a Portuguese colony. He travelled south at the age of 36, dressed as a beggar, to a country then divided into kingdoms after hearing about the persecution of Catholics by the Dutch, and worked for years under the protection of a Buddhist king. Later he was captured and accused of espionage for Portugal under the guise of religion. King Vimaladharmasuriya II protected him from the Dutch and Vaz’s reputation was further bolstered when he was said to have brought rain during a drought and by his work with the sick. Vaz remained in Kandy until his death in 1711, by which time the Church says he had converted 30,000 people and created a network of priests, almost single-handedly re-establishing Catholicism in Ceylon. Vaz was beatified by Pope John Paul II during a visit to Sri Lanka 20 years ago.

Pope: ‘One cannot make fun of faith’

Pope Francis said Thursday that free speech doesn’t cover insulting religion, barely a week after the Charlie Hebdo massacre. “One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith,” the pope said in Italian. “Every religion has its dignity… and I cannot make fun of it,” he continued. “In freedom of expression, there are limits, like in regard to my mom. ... If he says a swear word against my mother, he’s going to get a punch in the nose.” Francis has himself been a target of Charlie Hebdo, portrayed in pornographic poses or calling women “cocksuckers” in this week’s issue. Good news, though: The pope doesn’t think anyone should be killed over it. “One cannot make war, kill in the name of one’s own religion, that is, in the name of God. To kill in the name of God is an aberration.”