Francis urges reconciliation through pursuit of truth

POPE?Francis called for the “pursuit of truth” to heal the divisions behind conflicts as he began the first visit to Sri Lanka by a pope since the end of a decades-long civil war.

The Pope asked all groups to respect religious freedom and refrain from human-rights violations as he toured a country that just days ago ejected a president accused of atrocities against civilians in the campaign that ended the Tamil Tiger insurgency.

The visit to the mainly Buddhist country is focused on reconciliation as Sri Lanka attempts to find unity following the end in 2009 of the extended and bloody conflict between government forces and the terrorist Tamil Tigers.

“The great work of rebuilding must embrace … promoting human dignity, respect for human rights, and the full inclusion of each member of society,” the Pope said on his arrival in Colombo, adding that “the process of healing must include the pursuit of truth”.

The visit comes days after the  fall from power of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who refused to co­operate with investigations into the deaths of thousands of Tamil civilians as the war ended.

Francis was greeted by newly-elected president Maithripala Sirisena, whose Government has promised an independent domestic inquiry and a South African-style truth and reconcili­ation commission – something the Pope appears to be calling for in advocating “pursuit of truth”.

Just 6 per cent of Sri Lanka’s 20 million people are Catholic but the religion is seen as having the ability to bridge divides as it includes Sinhalese and Tamils.

Addressing Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim leaders on Tuesday, Francis urged them to forget their differences. “For the sake of peace, religious beliefs must never be allowed to be abused in the cause of violence and war,” said Francis.

Earlier, Francis cancelled one of his first appointments with Sri Lankan bishops. One official said he was “exhausted” after a long night flight and a drive from the airport delayed by huge crowds.

On Wednesday, the Pope held a Mass in front of half a million people on the Colombo seafront to canonise Sri Lanka’s first saint.

Joseph Vaz was a seventeenth-century missionary from Goa who is credited with keeping the Catholic Church alive during persecution by Dutch colonisers.

Introducing Pope Francis, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said that it was “opportune” that the Pope graced Sri Lanka with his presence. “We  suffered immensely for 30 long years. The war with weapons is over … and now, the war of reconstruction, reconciliation has begun.” Francis said Vaz was a model of reconciliation. “St Joseph shows us the importance of transcending religious divisions [for] peace,” he said.

Pope Francis was also to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in the Tamil north, a sanctuary where civilians took shelter during the conflict. On Thursday  he was due to arrive in the Philippines on the second leg of his Asian trip.