Archdiocese of Colombo to Begin Canonization Process for Easter Sunday Attack Victims
The Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka is taking a significant step towards honoring the memory of the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attack. The archdiocese is set to begin the canonization process for the hundreds of faithful who lost their lives in the tragic event.
On April 21, exactly five years after the attacks took place, the archdiocese plans to submit a petition to the Vatican to declare those killed in the Easter Sunday attacks as “martyrs of faith.” This petition will be submitted to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
The Easter Sunday attacks, carried out by eight suicide bombers, targeted two Catholic churches, one evangelical church, three luxury hotels, and other locations, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 269 people and injuring more than 500. Among the victims, 216 Catholics from St. Sebastian and St. Anthony churches were brutally killed.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombings, but the Sri Lankan government determined that a local radical Islamist group, National Thowheeth Jama’ath, with the assistance of foreign groups, was behind the attacks.
The archdiocese has been critical of the government’s response to the massacre, accusing it of withholding information about the attacks and those responsible. Despite some suspects being arrested and a trial beginning, there is still a lack of clarity and justice for the victims and their families.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo is determined to seek justice for the victims by pushing for their canonization as martyrs of faith. He believes that their act of faith in attending church on Easter Sunday, despite the risks, is a testament to their devotion and should be recognized by the Church.
The archdiocese hopes to receive approval from the Holy See to proceed with the canonization process and honor the victims as Servants of God. This initiative serves as a powerful tribute to the lives lost in the Easter Sunday attacks and a reminder of the enduring faith and resilience of the Sri Lankan Catholic community.