Pope in Sri Lanka: ‘Religious freedom a basic human right’

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Jan. 14, 2015—In his homily during the canonization Mass for St. Joseph Vaz held in Galle in Sri Lanka, a country with rival ethnic groups and faith traditions, the spiritual leader of the world’s over one billion Catholics stressed the importance of religious freedom, calling it 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,” he shares.

Pope Francis canonized St. Joseph Vaz today at the Galle Face Green, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Jan. 14, 2015. (Photo: Roy Lagarde)

Multi-religious context

Drawing inspiration from the life of the newly canonized St. Joseph Vaz, the Holy Father pointed out that 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.”

According to him, St. Joseph’s missionary zeal exemplifies the Church’s non-discriminatory attitude to all, regardless of differing beliefs.

“Though he came to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] to minister to the Catholic community, in his evangelical charity he reached out to everyone. Leaving behind his home, his family, the comfort of his familiar surroundings, he responded to the call to go forth, to speak of Christ wherever he was led,” he said.
Pope Francis stressed St. Joseph knew how to offer the truth and the beauty of the Gospel in a multi-religious context, with respect, dedication, perseverance and humility.

New saint

“This is also the way for the followers of Jesus today. We are called to go forth with the same zeal, the same courage, of St. Joseph, but also with his sensitivity, his reverence for others, his desire to share with them that word of grace which has the power to build them up. We are called to be missionary disciples,” he added.

His Holiness expresses hope that Sri Lanka’s Christian community will emulate their new saint as a model of faith, exhorting them to “make an ever greater contribution to peace, justice and reconciliation in Sri Lankan society.”

“This is what Christ asks of you. This is what Saint Joseph teaches you. This is what the Church needs of you. I commend all of you to the prayers of our new saint, so that, in union with the Church throughout the world, you may sing a new song to the Lord and declare his glory to all the ends of the earth. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised (cf. Ps 96: 1-4)! Amen,” the Holy Father declared. (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)