The government has declared Wednesday, January 14 as a special Public and Bank holiday in view of Pope’s visit, the Government Information Department, said.
Pope Francis departs on Monday for his second trip to Asia — and his seventh international visit — since he was elected to the helm of the Catholic Church nearly two years ago. The week-long journey will take the 78-year-old Argentine pontiff to Sri Lanka for two days, followed by a long-awaited three-day visit to the Philippines, which is the world’s third largest Catholic nation after Mexico and Brazil.
A common theme for Pope Francis in both Sri Lanka and the Philippines will be the promotion of reconciliation and interfaith dialogue, which he has stressed in previous international visits, particularly his last one to Turkey in late November.
