Sri Lankans from different religions thronged the roads to greet the country’s returning cardinal.

“We are proud that Sri Lanka has produced an eminent person of this caliber to lead Catholics in this land,” said Venerable Akurasse Chandrasiri Thero, a Buddhist monk, who joined the crowds in Colombo to welcome Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.

Venerable Kalupahana Piyaratana Thero, another Buddhist, agreed. "Cardinal Ranjith has contributed to build interreligious harmony," he said.

They were among thousands of people in the Buddhist-majority country who joined Catholics in welcoming Cardinal Ranjith, who was among 24 new cardinals created during the third consistory of Pope Benedict XVI on Nov. 20-21.

The cardinal proceeded from Bandaranaike International Airport to the National Basilica at Ragama, western Sri Lanka, to pay tribute to the late Thomas Benjamin Cooray, the country’s first cardinal.

"Please pray for me to serve to the church," Cardinal Ranjith said at a prayer service held at the National Basilica.

"I believe that Archbishop Ranjith became a cardinal because of his great service to poor families," said Father Basil Wicramasinghe, a parish priest.

"All Sri Lankans are proud to have a new cardinal," said Sri Lankan Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne.

Archbishop Ranjith, Sri Lanka’s second cardinal, was born in 1947 and has held various Vatican posts including that of adjunct secretary at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Colombo in 2009.

Relate report
Sri Lankans flock to see prelate made cardinal

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