Vatican envoy Gallagher visits Sri Lanka for diplomatic milestone, meets leaders, eyes reconciliation amid 2019 attack scars.
Newsroom (06/11/2025, Gaudium Press ) Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday for a five-day official visit celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the island nation.
In a warm reception at the Foreign Ministry, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath hailed the occasion as “a milestone that we proudly celebrate,” emphasizing five decades of friendship, cooperation, and shared values in peace, human development, and social justice.
Gallagher’s itinerary included high-level meetings with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. Government officials conveyed deep appreciation for the Catholic Church’s contributions to education, healthcare, interfaith dialogue, and aid for the poor and marginalized.
“The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka plays a significant role in nation-building, social cohesion, social services, and charity work,” Herath said, noting the multi-ethnic Catholic community’s respected role in fostering reconciliation across divides.
Sri Lankan leaders praised the Holy See and Pope Leo XIV as influential moral voices advocating justice, peace, disarmament, and human rights—principles aligning with national aspirations.
Responding, Gallagher expressed the Vatican’s eagerness to deepen bilateral ties and collaborate on global challenges. He commended Sri Lanka’s advances in ethnic and religious unity, as well as economic and political stabilization under Dissanayake’s administration.
In a notable gesture, the archbishop indicated that Pope Leo XIV may consider a visit to Sri Lanka soon, building on these positive developments.
Beyond diplomacy, Gallagher’s schedule prioritizes solidarity and interfaith engagement, including visits to sites of cultural and spiritual importance. He is set to pay respects at churches targeted in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which claimed over 250 lives and left enduring trauma in the Catholic community.
The attacks remain a poignant reminder of vulnerability, with Gallagher’s presence underscoring the Vatican’s commitment to healing and dialogue in a nation still navigating post-conflict recovery.
- Raju Hasmkuh with files from asianews.it
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