During the ceremony for the Canonization of St. Joseph Vaz, the Pope praised his non-aggressive missionary work in service of the poor, reaffirmed religious freedom as a “fundamental human right” and spoke of a Church that “goes out”
The Sri Lankan Church “generously serves all members of society. She makes no distinction of race, creed, tribe, status or religion in the service she provides through her schools, hospitals, clinics, and many other charitable works.” “All she asks in return is the freedom to carry out this mission” “to make an ever greater contribution to peace, justice and reconciliation in Sri Lankan society.”
On the second day of his visit to Sri Lanka, Pope Francis underlined that aiding reconciliation and healing society’s wounds is what Jesus expects of Sri Lankan Catholics today. He said so during the celebration of the Rite of Canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz, the priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, known as the “Apostle of Sri Lanka”. A huge crowd of faithful – more than half a million people according to Fr. Federico Lombardi - was present at the canonization ceremony which was held at Galle Face Green, a big urban park that overlooks the Indian Ocean.
In his homily, the Bishop of Rome described the profile of the new saint, praising him as a model of non-aggressive missionary work, who was able to help the faith flourish even in adverse circumstances. In the second half of the 17th century, the Goan priest came to the island of Ceylon dressed as a beggar, to bring comfort to the Catholic community which was dispersed as a result of the persecution of Dutch Calvinists. That discreet apostle who showed patience in suffering and was sustained purely by the strength he drew from the Gospel – which he translated into Tamil and Sinhala – had made it possible for the Church to blossom once again. He was also well liked by Kandy’s Buddhist king because of his service to the poor during a smallpox epidemic. St. Joseph Vaz was an “exemplary priest”, Pope Francis said. He was “an example of patient suffering in the cause of the Gospel, of obedience to our superiors, of loving care for the Church of God.”
“Saint Joseph shows us the importance of transcending religious divisions in the service of Peace,” the Successor of Peter said, in clear reference to the present. “His undivided love for God opened him to love for his neighbour; he ministered to those in need, whoever and wherever they were. His example continues to inspire the Church in Sri Lanka today.” Bearing in mind the context of Sri Lanka’s multi-religious society, the pope stressed that “religious freedom is a fundamental human right. Each individual must be free, alone or in association with others, to seek the truth, and to openly express his or her religious convictions, free from intimidation and external compulsion. As the life of Saint Joseph Vaz teaches us, genuine worship of God bears fruit not in discrimination, hatred and violence, but in respect for the sacredness of life, respect for the dignity and freedom of others, and loving commitment to the welfare of all.”
At the end of the mass, Cardinal Malcom Ranjith presented the Pope with a donation of 70 thousand dollars, raised by faithful.
