🇻🇦 Sri Lanka Renews Diplomatic Ties with Vatican; Pope Invited to Visit in 2027

• Diplomatic Credentials: Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Sumith Dassanayake, officially presented his credentials to Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace, appointing him as the non-resident Ambassador to the Holy See. • Key Discussion & Engagement: Ambassador Dassanayake conveyed greetings from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and officially reiterated an invitation for Pope Leo XIV to visit Sri Lanka in 2027. High-level bilateral meetings were also held with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher to foster ongoing cooperation. • Global Context: The ceremony took place alongside non-resident ambassadors from seven other nations. Pope Leo XIV emphasized a vital need to return to dialogue-driven diplomacy over conflict to build a more just and peaceful global foundation.