ASIA/SRI LANKA - Cardinal Ranjith: "The Pope's visit will be an impetus to reconciliation"

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - "The presence of Pope Francis, from 13 to 15 January, among us is a gift and a blessing. The climate we live in today is very positive and the Pope's visit will be an impetus to national reconciliation, after 30 years of war": says to Agenzia Fides Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, on the eve of the arrival of the Pope on the island of the Indian Ocean.
The Cardinal says to Fides: "The presence of the Pope himself is a blessing. For the third time a Pope sets foot in Sri Lanka, after Paul VI and John Paul II. The whole country will welcome him and are waiting for him with joy". Moreover, "Pope Francis strongly wanted to give us the canonization of Joseph Vaz, the holy apostle who revived the Church of Sri Lanka. We thank him heartily".
The Pope will travel to Madhu, in Tamil territory, "placing a strong emphasis and giving a boost to the reconciliation of the nation. We believe it is high time that there is an agreement, a political solution, five years after the end of the civil conflict. The current political climate, with the new president, is very positive", notes the Cardinal.
Among the meetings to be held, one with religious leaders has been scheduled: "For us in Sri Lanka, as throughout Asia, coexistence and interreligious dialogue is daily bread. We are immersed in the values and cultures of other religious traditions that affect our lives. As Christians in Asia we can find a suitable language to present the Gospel and the message of Christ", concluded Cardinal Ranjith. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/01/2015)