Pope Francis has called for respect for human rights, inclusivity, and
the "pursuit of truth" as he started a six-day Asian tour in Sri Lanka
It is the first papal visit to Sri Lanka since the end of a four-decade civil war in 2009
During the last papal visit 20 years ago, Pope John Paul II was boycotted by Buddhist leaders. But on this visit, the Pope Francis is expected to hold a multi-faith prayer meeting which should include moderate Buddhist representatives
Pope Francis visit, days after the election of a new president, will focus on unity in a country struggling to heal the wounds of a 37-year conflict that pitted troops against Tamil separatist rebels
Crowds have lined the streets of the capital, Colombo, to greet the Pope Francis
Speaking on the tarmac of Colombo's international airport shortly after
he landed, the Pope said that peace could be found by "cultivating those
virtues which foster reconciliation, solidarity and peace".
On Wednesday Jan 14,2015, which has been declared a
national holiday, he will hold a mass on the Colombo seafront that is
expected to attract around one million people.
He will canonise Sri Lanka's first saint, a 17th century missionary, during the open-air service.
He will also visit a small church in the jungle that was on the front lines of the ethnic conflict, which killed around 100,000 people.
The Our Lady of Madhu church in the mainly Tamil north provided sanctuary during the fighting, and is now a pilgrimage destination for Christians from across the ethnic divide.
Pope Francis will meet survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which claimed 7,350 lives when it destroyed entire farming and fishing communities in 2013.
The pope will celebrate mass with tens of thousands of survivors at the airport in Tacloban, one of the worst-hit cities.
It is the first papal visit to Sri Lanka since the end of a four-decade civil war in 2009
During the last papal visit 20 years ago, Pope John Paul II was boycotted by Buddhist leaders. But on this visit, the Pope Francis is expected to hold a multi-faith prayer meeting which should include moderate Buddhist representatives
Pope Francis visit, days after the election of a new president, will focus on unity in a country struggling to heal the wounds of a 37-year conflict that pitted troops against Tamil separatist rebels
Crowds have lined the streets of the capital, Colombo, to greet the Pope Francis
Pope Francis was greeted with a colourful Sri Lankan ceremony when he landed in Colombo on Tuesday
Traditional Sri Lankan dancers and
drummers lined the red carpet, and around 50 baby elephants decorated
with brightly coloured fabrics greeted Pope Francis arrival
Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake on January 13, 2015
He will canonise Sri Lanka's first saint, a 17th century missionary, during the open-air service.
He will also visit a small church in the jungle that was on the front lines of the ethnic conflict, which killed around 100,000 people.
The Our Lady of Madhu church in the mainly Tamil north provided sanctuary during the fighting, and is now a pilgrimage destination for Christians from across the ethnic divide.
On Thursday Jan 15,2015 Pope Francis will fly on to the Philippines .
The Philippines is one of the Church's
modern success stories, counting roughly 80 percent of the former
Spanish colony's 100 million people as Catholics. This has helped to
offset waning influence in Europe and the United States.Pope Francis will meet survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which claimed 7,350 lives when it destroyed entire farming and fishing communities in 2013.
The pope will celebrate mass with tens of thousands of survivors at the airport in Tacloban, one of the worst-hit cities.
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