Friday, November 22, 2013

Will Vatican Fall Under The Sri Lankan Politics?

By R. Jeevan -November 22, 2013

I don’t deny the fact that Defence Secretary Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa met Pope Francis. But, the meeting did not take place as it was exaggerated in Sri Lankan media. You may know Pope Francis has attracted a lot of support from all around the world for his simplicity and his newness in his leadership. Thousands and thousands of people flock to see the Pope every Wednesday and Sunday. Every Wednesday, according to the long Papal tradition the Pope holds a “General audience” to the faithful at St. Peter’s square. Nearly 100.000 faithful participates prayerfully during this General Audience which is known as “Wednesday Catechism” in which Pope as the supreme leader of the Church takes time to educate and instruct the faithful on particular themes that are more relevant to the Christian life. Usually when people in diplomatic levels and dignitaries of states (mainly those who are Catholics or believers in the Church) request to meet Pope they are invited to take part in these audiences. Before the audience Pope takes more than a half an hour to greet the pilgrims in the “Piazza”. Then he holds his catechism in different languages which lasts an hour and at the end of the audience he gives his Apostolic blessing and concludes the Audience. Usually Bishops and Cardinals greet the Pope immediately after the audience. Pope Francis takes time to greet and bless the special invitees too. When he greets special invitees and Bishops they usually offer the Pontiff with souvenirs. But he is strictly avoids any formal encounters.

Pope Francis

Mr. Gotabaya and his delegation was such a “special participants” for the weekly “General Audience” on the 20th of November, 2013 as the Sri Lankan Opposition leader Mr. Ranil Wickiramesinghe met Pope Benedict XVI in January this year. Any Vatican officials or diplomats was unaware of such presence as these matters fall directly under the head of the Papal household. The photo which was released to the media portrays that Mr and Mrs Gotabaya Rajapaksa handing over a souvenir to the Pope which Pope receives with much affection at his return to the Papal apartments after his General audience.

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