Archbishop Gallagher here to mark Golden Jubilee Celebrations between Sri Lanka and Holy See

His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher (Shown in this picture), Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from November 3 to 8 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Holy See

During his visit, Archbishop Gallagher will hold institutional meetings with the highest State Authorities

Archbishop Gallagher is here at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Holy See will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, marking a historic milestone in the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two states.

To mark this significant occasion, His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Holy See), will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from November 3 to 8 at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka.

During his visit, Archbishop Gallagher will hold institutional meetings with the highest State Authorities, reaffirming the strong diplomatic ties and shared commitment to peace, cooperation, and interreligious harmony between the Holy See (The Holy See is the central governing authority of the Roman Catholic Church, led by the Pope) and Sri Lanka. Courtesy calls are scheduled with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Premier Harini Amarasuriya and Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

An Institutional Celebratory Event featuring a Public Lecture by Archbishop Gallagher will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday (November 4) at Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. The lecture will reflect on the fifty years of Diplomatic Relations between the Holy See and Sri Lanka and their contribution to peace, dialogue, and cooperation.

The highlight of the Golden Jubilee will be a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving, presided over by Archbishop Gallagher and concelebrated by the Catholic Bishops of Sri Lanka, on November 5 at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena.

The celebration will be attended by Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and government dignitaries, members of the Diplomatic Corps and the faithful.

Following the Jubilee celebrations in Colombo, Archbishop Gallagher will travel to Kandy for a fraternal visit to Buddhist religious authorities, including the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, symbolizing the Holy See’s enduring commitment to interreligious friendship and understanding. On the morning of November 7, Archbishop Gallagher will visit the Cathedral of Kandy and celebrate Holy Mass at the Chapel of the Catholic National Seminary, Ampitiya.

Formal Diplomatic Relations between the Holy See and Sri Lanka were established on the September 6, 1975 through a Papal Bull issued by Pope Paul VI, who appointed Archbishop Carlo Curis as the first Apostolic Pro Nuncio to Sri Lanka.

Since then, the Apostolic Nunciature has served as a vital bridge of faith and cooperation between the Vatican and the Sri Lankan people, with its first office located at No. 1, Gower Street, Colombo 05. The bonds between the two states, however, trace their origins back to the 16th century, during the Portuguese Padroado system and later under the Congregation of Propaganda Fide.

Over the decades, Sri Lanka has been blessed with three Papal visits: Saint Pope Paul VI (1970), Saint Pope John Paul II (1995) and Pope Francis (2015), each reaffirming the deep spiritual and diplomatic ties between the Holy See and Sri Lanka. The Golden Jubilee celebrations take place during the tenure of His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, and His Lordship Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka.

On this special occasion, and amid these complex times in the international arena, we can look to the teachings of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who reminds us of our call to a renewed commitment to fraternity and reconciliation, invoking from God the precious gift of peace.