Pope Francis expresses solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka

Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka affected for months by a serious economic crisis which has led to food and medicine shortages, among others.

“I join in the pain of the people of Sri Lanka who continue to suffer the effects of political and economic instability,” said the Argentine pope after the Sunday Angelus prayer.

“Together with the bishops of the country I renew my call for peace and I implore those who have authority not to ignore the cry of the poor and the needs of the people,” Francis concluded.

A protest movement against the economic crisis, an unprecedented crisis since the independence in 1948 of this island of 22 million inhabitants, has been raging for months in Sri Lanka where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa promised Saturday to resign after the invasion of his residence.

The Editorial Board (with AFP)

Image credit: Shutterstock / Ruwan Walpola