“Your homeland is called the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, on account of its natural beauty and its shape”, he continued. “They say that the pearl is formed from the tears of the oyster. Unfortunately, many tears have been shed in recent years, on account of the internal conflict which caused so many victims and so much damage. It is not easy, I know, to heal the wounds and cooperate with yesterday’s enemy to build tomorrow together, but it is the only path that gives hope for the future, for development and for peace,” Pope Francis said addressing the Sri Lankan delegation, led by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjih, who visited him a few days ago.

Pope Francis thanked Cardinal Ranjith for inviting him to visit Sri Lanka, and said “I think the Lord wil grant us this grace.” The Pope is expected to visit the Philippines in 2015, and could make Sri Lanka a stop on that trip.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa too met Pope Francis in November and invited him to visit Sri Lanka.