Sri Lankans overlooked their ethnic and religious differences to greet Pope Francis during his visit to the country Tuesday.
Most shops and businesses remained closed as the pope’s motorcade passed along main roads in the capital, after a two-hour journey from the airport past tens of thousands of flag-waving devotees.
The pope met with Catholic Church representatives and addressed an inter-denominational meeting attended by Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Christian clergy.
Throngs had waited on the roadside for more than four hours under the scorching sun to have a glimpse of the pope along the parade route.
Pope Francis was given a traditional welcome ceremony at the airport. A cultural troupe beating drums also greeted him before the armed forces accorded a guard of honour and 21-gun salute.
The pontiff said he was praying for peace and reconciliation in the country five years after the end of its 26-year civil war.
“The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity,” the pope said.
The international community have been pushing for an investigation of alleged war crimes committed during the final stage of the war between government troops and Tamil rebels.
“I am convinced that various religious traditions have a role to play in reconciliation. All must be free to express their views. They must be prepared to accept one another and legitimate diversities,” the pope said.
“The great work of rebuilding must embrace improving infrastructures and meeting material needs, but also, and even more importantly, promoting human dignity, respect for human rights, and the full inclusion of each member of society,” he said.
About 23,000 policemen backed by commandos were deployed overnight to ensure security and control crowds.
The main event of the pope’s three-day stay in Sri Lanka will be an open-air Mass on Wednesday expected to draw 500,000 people.
Devotees have been requested to assemble at the venue from the previous evening and remain overnight.
The pontiff is planning to recognize Sri Lanka’s first Catholic saint, Joseph Vaz. Born in Goa, India, in 1651, Vaz spent most of his life as a missionary in Sri Lanka, where he died in 1711.
Francis is also slated to celebrate a Mass in Madhu, 320 kilometres north of the capital, which was affected by fighting between Tamil rebels and government troops during the long civil war.
Catholics account for about 7 per cent of the 20 million people in the predominantly Buddhist country. There are also Hindu and Muslim minorities.
On Thursday, the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics is to leave for the Philippines, where he is due to stay until Monday.
The January 12-19 trip is Francis’ seventh international sojourn and his second into Asia, after a visit to South Korea in August.
GNA
