In Colombo Archbishop Gallagher encourages progress in ethnic unity
The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States is in Sri Lanka for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Holy See. During his visit, he has met with President Dissanayake and Prime Minister Amarasuriya. The Sri Lankan government has expressed its gratitude for the Church's work on behalf of the poor. The prelate’s agenda includes visits to the churches involved in the Easter 2019 attacks, a wound that is still open.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, is currently in Sri Lanka for an official visit to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Asian country and the Holy See.
In welcoming the prelate in Colombo, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath described the visit as “a milestone that we proudly celebrate, reflecting five decades of friendship, cooperation, and a shared commitment to peace, human development, and social justice.”
Archbishop Gallagher arrived in the country on Monday for a five-day visit. His busy schedule has already included meetings with both President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
Sri Lankan authorities told him that they regard the Holy See and Pope Leo XIV as significant moral voices on the international stage who advocate for justice, reconciliation, peace, and disarmament, as well as the rights of all peoples, values that deeply resonate with the aspirations of the Sri Lankan people.
Minister Herath noted that Sri Lanka looks with pride at the broad scope of cooperation between the two sides, particularly in the domains of religion, education, healthcare, interfaith dialogue, and humanitarian cooperation.
For the minister, “The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka plays a significant role in nation-building, social cohesion, social services, and charity work for the country's poor and marginalised.”
Likewise, “The Catholic community, with its multi-ethnic composition, plays a key role in promoting reconciliation that is widely respected across all communities," he added.
For his part, Archbishop Gallagher stated that the Vatican also looks forward to working with Sri Lanka to meet international challenges and strengthen bilateral ties.
He noted that the Vatican admires the progress made by the country, particularly in promoting peace and unity among all ethnic and religious communities.
The archbishop added that, based on this progress, Leo XIV may consider a visit to Sri Lanka in the near future. The prelate also praised the ongoing efforts under the president's leadership to restore the country's economic and political stability.
In addition to official meetings, as part of efforts to express solidarity and strengthen interfaith dialogue, Archbishop Gallagher's agenda includes visits to culturally and spiritually significant sites on the island.
In particular, he will visit the churches affected by the Easter 2019 attacks that left over 250 dead, a wound that remains open in the country's Catholic community.
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