Cardinal Ranjith recalls Pope Francis' empathy and calls for justice on sixth anniversary of 2019 attacks.

Relatives pay their respects at a graveyard for victims of the St. Sebastian's Church bombing in Katuwapitiya on April 21, 2025. On the sixth anniversary of the Easter bombings that claimed 279 lives, Sri Lankan Catholics offered prayers for Pope Francis, remembering his deep empathy for the victims. Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

On Monday, Sri Lankan Catholics marked the sixth anniversary of the devastating Easter Sunday bombings by remembering not only the 279 lives lost but also the late Pope Francis, whose compassion for the victims and persistent calls for justice have left a lasting imprint on the nation’s Catholic community. During solemn services held across the country, clergy and congregants alike reflected on the pontiff's personal commitment to the survivors and his unwavering support for a transparent investigation.

The commemorations took place as news of Pope Francis’ death reached the faithful, adding emotional weight to the annual memorial. For many Sri Lankan Catholics, the late pope’s legacy is inextricably tied to the aftermath of the April 21, 2019, suicide attacks that targeted churches and hotels in Colombo, Negombo, and Batticaloa.

Pope Francis remembered for personal compassion and justice advocacy

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, led the memorial service at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya — one of the sites most severely affected by the attacks. The cardinal recalled Pope Francis’ meeting with a 41-member delegation of survivors and family members at the Vatican in 2021. According to Ranjith, the pope not only deviated from his prepared speech to speak from the heart but also comforted each individual personally, shedding tears upon seeing footage of the attack’s aftermath.

“I saw the tears in the Holy Father’s eyes,” Ranjith said during the ceremony. “He had deep empathy for the victims.”

The cardinal highlighted how the pontiff’s commitment to justice was more than symbolic. During that Vatican meeting, Pope Francis reportedly called upon the Sri Lankan government to ensure a transparent and credible investigation into the bombings — going beyond diplomatic language to express solidarity with a grieving and frustrated community.

Catholic victims recognized as ‘Witnesses of the Faith’

In a separate service held in the capital city of Colombo, Cardinal Ranjith shared an important development from the Vatican. He revealed that 167 of the Catholic victims of the Easter Sunday bombings have been formally recognized as “Witnesses of the Faith” — a key step on the path to possible sainthood. The move comes following a process initiated by the Sri Lankan Church a year ago and reflects growing recognition of the victims’ faith and martyrdom.

“The purpose of this is to propagate and preserve the memory of the witness in perpetuity,” said Ranjith. He went on to read aloud the names of the 116 victims who died at St. Sebastian’s Church and 41 who perished at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, both of which were packed with Easter worshippers on the morning of the coordinated bombings.

The 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and ongoing investigations

The Easter Sunday bombings of 2019 marked one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka’s history since the end of its civil war. The coordinated suicide bombings struck three churches and three luxury hotels, killing 279 people and injuring over 500. While responsibility was claimed by extremists linked to the Islamic State group, investigations into the attacks have raised disturbing questions about complicity and negligence within Sri Lanka’s own institutions.

Multiple investigations — including a presidential commission — concluded that the bombings were carried out by homegrown Islamist militants who claimed affiliation with the Islamic State. However, the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has consistently accused successive governments of concealing key details and shielding those responsible.

Several high-level inquiries and whistleblower reports have pointed to possible links between Sri Lankan military intelligence operatives and the bombers, prompting public outcry and repeated demands for accountability. Cardinal Ranjith has been at the forefront of these calls, urging both domestic and international actors to pressure the government into disclosing the full truth.

A call for justice that resonates beyond faith

For many Sri Lankan Catholics, Pope Francis represented a rare international figure who not only showed moral support but also used his influence to demand justice. His interventions — both public and behind closed doors — offered a sense of hope to a community that has long felt abandoned by its political leaders.

Monday’s commemorations served not only to remember the dead but also to reinforce the demand for truth and accountability. The memory of Pope Francis, now immortalized in the eyes of many Sri Lankan Catholics, played a central role in that narrative.

At St. Sebastian’s Church, which has since been rebuilt, survivors and relatives of victims offered flowers and candles beneath portraits of the deceased. Alongside their grief was a deep gratitude for the late pontiff, whose compassion has been described as both personal and transformative.

Looking ahead amid grief and remembrance

The announcement of Pope Francis’ passing came as a blow to many in Sri Lanka, especially those for whom he had become a symbol of empathy and courage. As Sri Lankan Catholics continue to push for justice, they do so with the knowledge that their cause was once championed by a spiritual leader who saw their suffering not as a distant issue but as a shared human tragedy.

Cardinal Ranjith concluded his remarks by urging the international community to remember Pope Francis’ appeal for truth in Sri Lanka — and to ensure that his vision of justice does not die with him.

“As we pray for his soul, let us also continue the work he started with us,” Ranjith said.