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PEOPLE AROUND THE POPE

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09/08/2009 22:35
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Mons. Ranjit is installed
as Archbishop of Colombo:
"Let us build together peace
and reconciliation in Sri Lanka'

by Melani Manel Perera





COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, August 6 (AsiaNews) – During the ceremony of installation as 9th archbishop of the diocese of Colombo, Mgr Malcom Ranjit urged Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus, political leaders and ordinary people to remain united to build together “true peace and reconciliation in the country”.

The solemn ceremony, which took place yesterday, saw the presence of thousands of faithful, representatives of the diocese’s various parishes as well as members of other Christian Churches, and Hindu and Buddhist communities.

The country’s bishops and Apostolic Nuncio Joseph Spiteri were also present. The ceremonial Mass was held in Sinhalese, Tamil and English.

The Archdiocese of Colombo has 657,000 members out of a total population of 5.7 million.

The nuncio read the apostolic letter that announced the appointment of the new archbishop, followed by the installation ceremony.

The outgoing archbishop, Mgr Oswald Gomis, delivered the homily in Sinhalese. In it he stressed that the diocese of Colombo had a long history, and that it was established some centuries before the Portuguese reached the island.

Mgr Thomas Savundaranayagam from Jaffna delivered the homily in Tamil.

At the end of the Mass Mgr Ranjit addressed the assembly in Sinhalese and Tamil before an audience that included a number of political leaders.

In his speech the new archbishop called on everyone to pray that he be able to perform his duties as shepherd.

He thanked Pope Benedict XVI for the tie that bound him to the Holy Father, based on “obedience, loyalty, and pastoral care” but also on a “deep personal friendship.”

He said he hoped that such a bond “between the supreme shepherd and the archdiocese of Colombo may grow further for the joy of the entire Church.”

Mgr Ranjit then addressed priests, young people and all the faithful and spoke about the country’s situation, stressing his wish that entire diocese and all Catholics work for peace in the country.

“Our beloved motherland has suffered too much from the ill effects of sectarianism, narrow mindedness, and divisiveness in the past 50 years,” he said.

He also explained that the Church wants to work with the president, with political and religious leaders as well as all citizens to build a just, free and democratic society where differences in religion, race or language do not become a cause of division but rather one of unity.

A number of Buddhist monks came to the ceremony even though it fell on a day that is important to the Buddhist religion, namely the day of Poya, the full moon.

Speaking to them Mgr Ranjit said: “I want to express my total solidarity with the members of the Maha Sangha (Buddhist monks). As the majority religious groups they want to work for true peace and reconciliation in the nation.”

Mgr Malcom Ranjit, 62, was appointed Colombo’s auxiliary bishop in 1991. In 1995 he was made bishop of Ratnapura. In 2001 he became assistant secretary in the Congregation for the Evangelisation of peoples.

Between 2004 and 2005 he was nuncio in Indonesia before returning to the Vatican to be secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship. The Pope appointed him archbishop of Colombo last June and bestowed the pallium upon him last 29 June.




Before leaving Rome, Mons. Ranjith gave an interview to Avvenire which published it on the day of his installation in Colombo:

Catholics can be a bridge for peace
between Sinhalese and Tamils


'Benedict XVI shows the intimate link between
liturgical renewal and renewal of the Church'


Interview in Rome
by GIANNI CARDINALE
Translated from

August 5, 2009


"I am very homored that Pope Benedict chose me to be the new Archbishop of Colombo, which is the capital of my country, at this particular moment in our history. Likewise, I was very nonored when he called me three and a half years ago back to Rome to be among his co-workers in the Curia, and in the field which is very close to his heart, the liturgy."

Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don was named to his new position on June 16, and on July 10, he had a private audience with the Pope. Today, he takes possession of his diacese.

Avvenire interviewed him the day before he left for Sri Lanka.


Excellency, your nomination to be Archbishop of Colombo does come at a crucial time for your country...
Indeed. The civil war that has afflicted our country for almost 30 years has just officially come to an end.

Because of the intransigence shown by the Tamil rebels [who want a separate state] and the difficulty of reaching a solution acceptable to both sides, the government decided to go in and liberate the territory that had been under rebel control.

The country was sick and tired of the conflict and it was certainly not going to allow a 'parallel' illegitimate government to rule part of it.

So I understand the pride and the euphoria that the government, the president, and the whole country feels. There is a feeling that a tragic era has ended.

At the same time, everyoen understands that this does not necessarily mean a true and lasting peace. It's one thing to win a war, another to win the hearts of everyone. This will urgently require a process of reconstructing harmony between two races - the Sinhalese and the Tamils [who come from southern India].


You have known the Sri Lankan President for some time, and you have relations of reciprocal esteem...
Yes, and I believe that he needs the support and spiritual guidance of the representatives of the various religions in order to effect the necessary cultural change, so that different races and religions can live together pecaefully in a new society. You see, there are several fundamentalist groups who do not want to see a pluri-cultural society - they are rather powerful and well organized.


What role can the Catholic Church play in this process of pacification?
It already has an important role because it is present among the Sinhalese who are the majority of the population, though most of them are Buddhists; as well as among the Tamil minority, who are mostly Hindu religionists.

That is not to say that the civil war had a religious nature - it was political - although the religious element is significant. So the religions face this challenge of first overcoming the ethnic barrier. The Church has been quite successful in this, and therefore it could help as an inter-racial bridge between the Sinhalese and the Tamils.


Is this mediating role by the Church acknowledged by the civilian authorities?
Yes, the government and political leaders have always appreciated the peacemaking role of the Church.


And the other religions?
Normally, even the Hindu and Buddhist leaders seem to appreciate our role as peacemaker and mediator. But I won't deny that certain Buddhist circles look at me with suspicion - the same ones that have been proposing legislation against conversions. They would be annoyed to see any increase in Catholic prestige because it can play a mediating role between the two races.


You are leaving after three years and a half at the Congregation for Divine Worship...
I will always be deeply grateful to the Holy Father for having called me to Rome to work with him in such an important field as that of the liturgy. I have therefore had the joy of being able to experience closely the activities of the Pope and his insistence on a renewal of the Church which is intimately linked to the renewal of liturgical life.


What was it like working in the CDW?
I had the chance to work with two cardinals - Cardinal Arinze and then, with Cardinal Canizares for several months - both excellent, especially under the particular circumstances.

For my part, I tried to make sure there was enough discussion and reflection on those aspects of liturgy which unfortunately had been marginalized, although they are essential, as we see in Pope Benedict's various writings before he became Pope.

I believe that with Cardinal Canizares, the liturgy of the Church is in truly good hands.


What about the Roman Curia?
As you know, I have spent eight years in the service of the Holy See. The experience has enriched me greatly, widening my horizons and enabling me to taste more directly the mystery of that intimate link between the Church and the Lord, and his sanctifying action through the Church - an action that often takes place silently, inspite of teh difficulties, obstacles and differences of human experience which afflict his own disciples.


Do you not regret any of the statements you made that seemed to be too critical of the liturgical situation in the Church and perhaps too positive with regard to the so-called pre-conciliar rites?
Perhaps I may have come on a bit too strong at times, but I sincerely do not regret anything I said. History and the Lord will judge me.


After your Roman experience, with what spirit are you going back home?
With great hope, because I believe that the Catholic Church has a great mission for the future of the world, and for Asia, in particular.

In the mission entrusted to us as a local Church, the role of the Pope is fundamental. He is Peter, and for Catholics, he is the Vicar of Christ. He represents for us the guiding role of Christ himself in history, his concern for the salvation of the world. That is why the faithful, particularly the regular folk, love the Pope and wish him well.

It is with such certainty that I return joyfully to my country where Catholics love the Pope and pray hor him all the time. With the hope, as well, that we will be able to welcome him if, as it has been said, he will be making a pastoral visit to Asia.


[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 09/08/2009 23:45]
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