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Pope in Madhu galvanises hopes for reconciliation, unity and peace
In an area once gripped by fear and terror, Pope Francis’ visit to the church of Our Lady of Madhu, during his two-day visit to the country, was seen by many as the start of a new phase in postwar reconciliation in the country.
Devotees at Madhu greet Pope Francis and below right the Pope with a wooden replica of the statue of Our Lady of Madhu that was presented to him by Mannar Bishop Rt. Rev Rayappu Joseph. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Thousands thronged the precincts of the Madhu Church in Mannar district on Wednesday afternoon, where Pope Francis flew in from Colombo to conduct a special mass and prayed for “Sri Lankans both Tamils and Sinhalese, to rebuild the unity which was lost.”
“There are families here today, which suffered greatly in the long conflict which tore open the heart of Sri Lanka. Many people, from north and south alike, were killed in the terrible violence and bloodshed of those years. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Madhu, may all people here, find inspiration and strength to build a future of reconciliation, justice and peace for all the children of this beloved land,” the Pope said.
P. Yoga Dharshini, along with around 200 handicapped and orphaned children, travelled close to 100 miles to Madhu to get the Pope’s blessings. “These children have very little hope, so being here today was a very special experience for them. They feel very fortunate to be blessed by the Pope,” Dharshini said, after Mass concluded.
Earlier in the day, people had begun gathering at Madhu from around 4 am. Elaborate arrangements had been made to ensure that the Pope’s visit, the first to Madhu by a visiting Head of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, went off without a hitch.
There they waited patiently, some putting up temporary tents to shield themselves from the heat. The Pope arrived at Madhu around 3.15 pm and went around on his’Popemobile’ waving to the crowds, stopping to bless devotees, before arriving at the entrance to the Church. There he was greeted by eight children, two each representing the different faiths in the country. Earlier, as he alighted from the helicopter that brought him from Colombo to Madhu, he was greeted by several differently-able children.
Philomena Perera
For Mannar Bishop Rt Rev Rayappu Joseph, the day was an especially happy one. “I was extremely happy that day. His message of forgiveness and unity was a powerful one and came at the perfect time when our country is heading in a new direction,” said the Bishop.
P. Yoga Dharshini
After a prayer service, he presented the Pope with a wooden replica of the statue of Our Lady of Madhu, which the Pope held to his heart for several minutes.
P. Thangavel (65) and his wife Margaret had come from Vavuniya to see and listen to Pope Francis. “The Pope is like God to us. It is such a blessing to see him on our soil,” Thangavel said.
The Pope’s arrival, along with a change of Government, seems to have heightened the hopes among many of those present. “We have a new Government and the Pope is also here, so it is a happy time for us” Thangavel said.
Philomena Perera (72) had come from Negombo. “I feel blessed to be here and see the Pope with my own eyes. It is an experience I will never forget,” she said.
Pope Francis’ message of forgiveness and unity is one that Bishop Rayappu Joseph will preach to churchgoers in the weeks ahead. “People of all communities have suffered due to the war, with people in the North and East undergoing the worst of it. It is 
important for the Pope’s message to be spread among, not only people in these areas, but also in the South, so that we can bring about true reconciliation,” the Bishop said.
P. Thangavel (65) and his wife Margaret
As the sound of the helicopter carrying Pope Francis back to Colombo, at the conclusion of his historic visit to Madhu filled the air, the faithful too began to leave for their homes. As each headed in a different direction, the blessings that the Pope had collectively bestowed on them had brought about a sense of togetherness and unity that was clearly visible as the sunset on the day, which will, no doubt, be one of the most memorable in the history of the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu.
Papal visit in pictures
 Pix by Ranjith Perera, M.A. Pushpa Kumara, Nilan Maligaspe, Anuradha Bandara and Amila Prabode |  |
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