by

Rex Clementine

Pope Francis would visit the historical Madhu Shrine during his stay in Sri Lanka in January next year, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo announced yesterday. The Cardinal was at the Madhu Shrine to celebrate the Feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to heaven that fell yesterday.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in the district of Mannar is considered the holiest Catholic shrine in Sri Lanka. Madhu is a place of worship for both the Sinhalese and the Tamils and has been considered a symbol of unity between the two communities.

It was announced yesterday that over 400,000 devotees attended the Madhu festival and making a special announcement Cardinal Malcolm reveled the Pope’s visit to the Shrine that has a history of over 400 years.

The Pope will arrive in Sri Lanka on the 13th of January and celebrate mass at the Galle Face Green on the 14th morning before heading to Mannar. The Pope is also scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Francis I is the third Pope to visit Sri Lanka. Pope Paul VI visited the country in December 1970 while Saint John Paul II visited the country in January 1995.

Pope Francis’ concern for the poor and the youth has won him many admirers all over the world.

Courtesy:The Island