You have expressed a desire for this encounter. It is my hope that your brief visit will leave you with many pleasant memories. The buildings you see, and their many works of art, especially Saint Peter’s Basilica, honour the memory of the first of Christ’s Apostles, Peter, the fisherman from Galilee. I pray that your visit to his tomb may give you a deeper understanding of the Catholic Church and of her role of service to mankind. May this meeting serve to further the cause of harmony and collaboration between the different religious traditions present in your country.

My prayerful best wishes go to each one of you, and I raise my heart in prayer to Almighty God invoking abundant blessings upon the people of Sri Lanka.

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