The Apostolic Journey of the Holy Father Pope Francis to Sri Lanka and the Philippines brought an air of peace to our motherland.

His visit was necessary to the reconciliation among different ethnicities and religions.

His Holiness after a Grand Welcome at the Bandaranaike International Airport has received the warmest welcome from the crowd who waited Him on the Negombo old road.

Because of the very hot climate, the Pope had to resign from going to the Archbishop's House and took some rest at the Apostolic Nunciature.

In the afternoon His Holiness participated at an inter – religious function at BMICH, organized by the National Commission for inter – religious dialogue chaired by His Lordiship Bishop Cletus Perera, the Bishop of Ratnapura.

On His second day, Holy Father presided the canonisation Mass of Blessed Joseph Vaz to the sainthood at Galle Face Green in Colombo with the participation of a large number of priest and Bishops as well.

 

In His sermon Holy Father Pope Francis described the figure of St. Joseph Vaz as model for missionaries as He well understood the mission of evangelization of missionary priests.

Pope Francis invited the faithful to imitate this 'Great' Saint.

On the afternoon of the same day, Pope Francis went to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, where He prayed a Marian prayer and blessed the crowd with the statue of Our Lady of Madhu.

 

Bishop Rayappu Joseph, diocesan Bishop of Mannar organized the event in his diocese with the support of Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka.

On the return from Madhu, Pope Francis surprised everyone by going to a Buddhist temple in Colombo as His Holiness wanted to recover the visit to Archbishop's House, and in the absence of the Bishops (they were still on the way of return from Madhu), He visited the temple.

 

On the last day, Pope Francis blessed the newly repaired Chapel of our Lady of Lanka at Bolawalana's Pope Benedict XVI Theological Institute.

Then sadly, We had to say goodbye as His Holiness was getting ready to start His Apostolic visit to the Philippines. The Srilankans had to thank Pope Francis which visit brought an air of peace which was really needed.

 

Photo by popefrancissrilanka.com - for more photos visit "gallery" section