Pope Francis Sri Lanka

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  Pope Francis Stands With Victims Of "Cruel Violence" In Sri Lanka

  Pope Francis Sunday expressed his sadness at the deadly bomb attacks in Sri Lanka and said he stood with the victims of "such cruel violence."

• Pope Francis Leaves Post-War Sri Lanka After Preaching Reconciliation

  Pope Francis started the second leg of his Asia tour on Thursday, departing from Sri Lanka after a two-day visit in which he preached a message of reconciliation between the country's different religious groups to huge crowds.

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  After 300 Years, Sri Lanka Gets its First Saint, A Goan

  After over 300 years, efforts to canonize Indian-origin Catholic priest Joseph Vaz finally concluded with Pope Francis giving Sri Lanka its first Saint, a Goan.

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  Sri Lanka Releases 572 Prisoners to Mark Pope Visit

  Sri Lanka released nearly 600 prisoners and reduced jail terms for others on Wednesday to mark Pope Francis' visit and his proclamation of the country's first saint.

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  Joseph Vaz: Sri Lanka's First Saint

  Sri Lanka's first saint was a 17th century missionary whose role in reviving the Catholic faith during religious persecution by Dutch colonisers gives him a contemporary resonance on the island.

• Pope Francis Gives Sri Lanka First Saint Before Half Million Crowd

  Pope Francis gave Sri Lanka its first saint at a waterfront Mass for more half a million people in Colombo on Wednesday, calling 17th century missionary Joseph Vaz a model of reconciliation after the country's recent civil war.

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  Pope Francis' Seafront Mass to Draw Million Sri Lankans

  Pope Francis will today give a seafront mass in the Sri Lankan capital expected to draw at least a million worshippers, on the second day of a two-nation tour of Asia.

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  Pope Francis Says Sri Lanka Should Seek 'Truth' Over Civil War

  Pope Francis called on Sri Lanka to uncover the truth of what happened during its bloody civil war as part of a healing process between religious communities, as he arrived in Colombo a few days after the island's wartime leaders were voted out.

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  After Minorities Vote for Change of Power, Pope Francis Visits Sri Lanka

  Pope Francis arrived in Sri Lanka today on a 3-day visit. He was received by the newly elected president Maithripala Sirisena.

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  Pope Francis Begins Asia Visit in Sri Lanka

  Pope Francis will arrive in Sri Lanka today, days after the surprise election of a president who has pledged a new culture of tolerance in a country still recovering from civil war.

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  Pope's Asia Trip to Address Poverty, Dialogue, Climate Change

  Pope Francis returns to Asia for the second time in less than six months, travelling to Sri Lanka and the Philippines in coming days to underscore his concern for inter-religious dialogue, poverty and the environment.

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  Pope, on Christmas Eve, Urges World to be Open to God

  Pope Francis ushered the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas on Wednesday, urging them to allow God to enter their lives to help combat darkness and corruption.

• Candidates Pledge No Violence: Sri Lankan Church

  The two main candidates in Sri Lanka's presidential election have promised a violence-free vote, with Pope Francis scheduled to visit the country just days later, a church leader said.

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  Fearing Poll-Related Violence, Lankan Clergy Want Pope's Visit Postponed

  Catholic clergy and civil society groups in Sri Lanka have called for the Pope's visit to be rescheduled in view of the hotly contested Presidential elections.

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  Pope to Bring Message of Hope to Typhoon-Hit Philippines

  Pope Francis will bring a message of hope when he visits the Philippines in January, Church officials said on Friday, on a trip that will see him tour areas devastated by last year's super typhoon.