Pope Francis met on Friday with the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who also held talks with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

 During their meeting, at the Holy See, the Pope and the President discussed the situation in Sri Lanka, with particular reference to recent social and economic progress, the Vatican Radio reported.

“Their discussion also focused on the forthcoming visit that Pope Francis will make to the island nation next January, in the hope that his journey will be welcomed as a sign of solidarity with all the people of Sri Lanka and a moment of encouragement for all those working for justice, peace, reconciliation and the common good of the country,” the report said.

President Rajapaksa, who is on a three-day tour of Italy and the Vatican, arrived in Rome on Thursday. He was to officially extend an invitation to the Pope, who is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in January next year.

Rajapaksa was received at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome by the Head of Vatican Protocol Office, Msgr. Jose Avelino Bettencourt, Sri Lankan Ambassador in Italy Mr. Nawalage Bennet Cooray and Sri Lankan Ambassador in Holy See and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, Mr. Ravinatha Aryasinha.

Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II visited Sri Lanka in 1970 and 1995 respectively.

The Catholic Church has already confirmed the visit of Pope Francis I to Sri Lanka in January next year. His Holiness will also preside over the canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz, the Apostle of Sri Lanka, as the first Saint of Sri Lanka.
 
Pope Paul VI and Pope Saint John Paul II visited Sri Lanka in 1970 and 1995.

Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of State Resources and Enterprise Development Dayasritha Tissera, Minister of Social Services Felix Perera, Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera, Minister of Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Anthony Victor Perera, Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Sajin de Vass Gunawardena Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga, and Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs, Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne also accompanied the President during this tour.