Sri Lanka’s New Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith will be given a grand welcome when he arrives at the Bandaranaike International Airport at 8.15 am today a week after Pope Benedict elevated him to the rank of a Prince of the Church.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith will be welcomed at the airport by bishops, high-ranking priests of the Colombo Archdiocese, rectors of colleges and seminaries, politicians and members of his immediate family before proceeding in a motorcade to the National Basilica at Tewatta in Ragama.
At the Basilica, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith will pay tribute to Sri Lanka’s first Cardinal Thomas Cooray at his tomb. He will then impart his blessing to the thousands of Catholics who are expected to be present for service at the Basilica.
The state-sponsored civic reception at the BMICH on Monday will be attended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, cabinet ministers and other religious dignitaries, Archdiocesan Mass Communication Director Rev. Fr. Benedict Joseph said.
A special solemn thanksgiving Eucharistic service, concelebrated by the Cardinal, Bishops and the Apostolic Nuncio will be held at St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Kotahena on December 4 at 9.00am.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith was one of the 24 Cardinals consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI last Saturday. The newly appointed Cardinals received their red biretta from Pope Benedict during the Consistory at Saint Peter's Basilica on November 20.
The 63-year-old Cardinal was born in Polgahawela and was ordained a priest in 1975 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Pope Paul VI. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo in 1991 and the same year was appointed the Bishop of Ratnapura. He was appointed the Archbishop of Colombo in June last year.
Courtesy - Daily Mirror - By Susitha R. Fernando
