The Pope's message to Sri Lankans
 

by E. Weerapperuma

His Holiness Pope John Paul II, the Supreme Shepherd of the Catholic Church "Returned to His Home" on Sunday 1.37 am after almost 48 hours breathing His last in His private apartment in Vatican in the midst of His faithful helper, doctors and nurses just 46 days away from his 85th birthday on May 18. He was laid to rest on April 8 in the presence of millions of people gathered at St.Peter's Square for days paying their last respect.

It was reported that over 3,500 media men and women from both print and electronic were present. From Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Christian Affairs Minister Milroy Fernando, Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, former Speaker Joseph Michael Perera MP and Neomal Perera MP were present along with the Sri Lankan community living in Italy at the burial of the Pope aptly referred as "People's Pope".

His pontificate which covers little more than a quarter of a century will go down in history as one of most revolutionalised pontificate of living memory.

Able people of all walks of life, of all ages went to Vatican to pray for the repose of His soul. Whatever the views held, people recognized Him to be a great man, a man of immense personal charisma, moral stature and a man who created a unique place for the papacy in our world. By His personal example and persuasion he reigned for 26 years, being one of the longest reigns ever beginning from 1978 October 16 to 2005 April 2.

Adorning the seat of St. Peter with his presence, He brought His vision of Catholicism to the world. More than any other Pope, he embraced all the faiths, apologized to all, for all the injustices Christians and Catholics have committed, and He apologised to the Jews for not doing enough to stop the holocaust.

He apologised to Muslims when he visited the Holy Land for the crusade and in a message He embraced those faiths becoming the first Pope to enter a Synagogue, a first Pope to enter a Mosque, and first to have widely travelled in the world. His unique brand of inter-faith conciliation to all His flock and to people over the world.

His Holiness was the first State Head to have arrived in Sri Lanka after the People's Alliance Government assumed office. The Pope was here on January 20, 1995 to officiate at the Holy Mass to beatify and declare Fr.Joseph Vaz, a humble Servant of God, a Bhrahamin and the Superior of the Congregation of Oratory on January 21, Blessed Apostle of Sri Lanka.

At the farewell ceremony held at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport on January 21, 1995, Pope John Paul II said : "My parting wish for Sri Lankans is that, like your Manel flower which no matter its surroundings, opens up and blossoms into its full glory in the light of the sun, true good and true peace will blossom on this beautiful island because they flourish in the heart of each and everyone of you".

In His message to all countrymen the Pope said: "I appeal to all Sri Lankans, in the name of our common humanity, to work for reconciliation and harmony. I encourage the Government and all other parties involved, to persevere in negotiating a just end to the conflict which has marred Sri Lankan life in recent years, to create the condition for the return of the refugees to their homes, and to continue resolutely in their efforts to promote the integral development of Sri Lankan society. 'Peace' is in fact a Divine Gift. But it is also a task, a challenge, a moral responsibility of the men and women of our time. It has always to be forged step by step", the Pontiff said.

Responding to the Welcome speech made by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on His arrival the Pope said: "For many years I had hoped to visit the 'Pearl of Indian Ocean', resplendent with natural beauty, the land of the 'Mahavamsa', a nation proud of its ancient culture, a country known for its smiling, hospitable people.

I come as a friend from Rome........ I come as a pilgrim of goodwill, with nothing but peace in my heart......May all Sri Lankans of good will be strong in persevering in their efforts to find a just and peaceful solution to the ethnic conflict which has scarred the life of the nation in recent times, with its victims, its destruction and its terrible aftermath of suffering.

The most recent steps taken in this direction nurture the hope, which all people of goodwill share with you, that everyone involved will shun violence and will draw on your traditions of tolerance in pursuing a harmony born of reconciliation and full respect of society's members."

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga welcoming His Holiness, said, that it was with profound gratitude she welcomed the Supreme Shepherd of the Church.

"I wish to state that you are a unique Angel of Peace who goes preaching the message of Peace to the whole world not only to the nine billion of Catholics. You have been consistently and untiringly labouring to establish international peace and unity in the world.

You have expressed your concern and anxiety over the prevailing disturbances in my country. I am sure you will be happy to learn what steps my government has taken to bring about peace, treat all equally and to respect the dignity of all and my government has given priority to this aspect.

"People in this country has given my government an unprecedented mandate in clear terms which they had never given to any previous governments. Three days before Your Excellency commenced Your Asian tour we have taken steps to observe Cessation of Hostilities on January 8. It is my hope and the hope of my government with the Cessation of Hostilities in Operation that we will be able to arrive at a lasting permanent solution which will usher a new era to all communities and to the country.", the President said.

We recall this to our minds to remind ourselves the concern His Holiness had to this country and invite all men of goodwill to rally round those who tirelessly work for peace and prosperity of our land as that is the greatest tribute Sri Lanka could pay to a "Pontiff of Our Times".