As Sri Lanka thanks Pope Francis, politics overshadows the visit
Colombo (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Pope Francis' recent visit to Sri Lanka was an important moment in the Asian country's history. Both print and electronic media followed it every step of the way, from Joseph Vaz's canonisation to the visit to the Marian shrine in Madhu. However, the country's change in government leadership, following Maithripala Sirisena's victory over Mahinda Rajapaksa, still dominated the news.
Several times, as Saint Joseph Vaz showed in his missionary example, Francis reiterated the need for the people of Sri Lanka to transcend "religious divisions in the service of peace".
Repeatedly, the Holy Father said that national reconciliation was needed to overcome once and for all "the long conflict that has torn the heart of Sri Lanka."
Many editorials agreed with the pope; however, they did so in conjunction with the country's recent change in government and president.
For instance, an English-language newspaper, The Island, jokingly said that Pope Francis brought "bad luck" to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
"The third visit of a Pope to Sri Lanka is certainly important to Catholics here," the paper said in an editorial. At the same time, it "is also an event of historical importance in the relations between Sri Lanka and the Holy See."
"Apart from its religious and historical importance, this papal visit also underscored an important political lesson to future national leaders of Sri Lanka."
The article noted in facts that each time a pope visited the country - Paul VI (1970), John Paul II (1995), Francis (2015) - the leader who invited the head of the Catholic Church was never the one who welcomed him.
Finally, the paper said, "Whether the spiritual powers of the Holy Father were in any way responsible for this interesting reality or not, it is certainly a good lesson for politicians against trying to use religious leaders, and the faith of people for purposes of political propaganda."
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