MR sends greetings to new Pope

17 March 2013 06:55 am

President Mahinda Rajapaksa while expressing his good wishes to Pope Francis on Saturday said that, “Your Holiness has been elected in a significant era when the world is facing unprecedented social and economic challenges and as such.”

The message also said: “Your Holiness has been elected as the Supreme Leader of the Catholic Church in a significant era when the world is facing unprecedented social and economic challenges and as such, there is a greater yearning for peace and harmony in the different theatres of conflict.”

President Rajapaksa also said, “Sri Lanka enjoys longstanding close and cordial bilateral relations and has also actively contributed to the Holy See’s initiative on inter-religious dialogue over the years” while also expressing confidence that this warm relationship will be further strengthen during the Pontificate of his Holiness.