Pope Francis arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Tuesday in the first leg of his Asian tour that will include a visit to the Philippines and has called for the “pursuit of truth” as he began his first papal visit to the country since it emerged from the rubble of a bloody civil war that lasted over 3 decades with the loss of thousands of lives.
“The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity,” the Pope said after landing in the capital Colombo.
Pope Francis was met and greeted by the country’s newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena, who displaced former President Rajapaksa that was recently voted out of office after the freshly concluded general elections earlier this month.
The next leg of the papal tour will be the Philippines.
PHOTO CREDIT: REUTERS/STEFANO RELLANDINI/DINUKA LIYANAWATTE
