Pope Francis holds Mass in Colombo for Sri Lankan unity, visits Tamil shrine

Pope Francis is pressing his call for Sri Lankan unity and reconciliation with a Mass in Colombo to canonise the country’s first saint and a visit to the war-ravaged north to visit a shrine revered by both Sinhalese and Tamil faithful. [caption id=“attachment_2038269” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Pope Francis. AFP[/caption] Tens of thousands of people waving Vatican flags poured into Colombo’s seafront Galle Face Green for Francis’ Wednesday morning Mass, with some spending the night to ensure a good spot. Francis arrived well before Mass to greet the crowd, getting off his popemobile to kiss the sick and handicapped. Francis is canonizing the Rev. Joseph Vaz, a 17th century Indian missionary who ministered to the faithful of both Sri Lanka’s ethnic groups during a time of anti-Catholic persecution by Dutch colonists. AP