Bishops of Rome and Rome of the Orient Message-ID: <onmac7qyqyxhpi8n2lydd0or.1407544417...@email.android.com>
According to Catholic News Agency report, in February (2014), Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo had invited Pope Francis to visit the country and Pope Francis announced that he will visit Sri Lanka in January 2015. Since the Bishop of Rome is the Head of the State of the Vatican, an independent State (country), though smallest, within the city of Rome, I think a formal invitation is required, much in advance as the Sri Lankan Cardinal has done. Was the Pope formally invited as the Sri Lankan Cardinal has done? I guess as per diplomatic protocol any Head of State arrives first in the Capital of the host country if it is official visit? md Bishops of Rome and Rome of the Orient Message-ID: <onmac7qyqyxhpi8n2lydd0or.1407544417...@email.android.com> Perhaps the Bishop of Rome remembers the Padroado and still wants to honor it. Or as a Jesuit he wants to discourage the worshipping of a long dead body even if the person once happened to be from his own Society. Or perhaps he thinks that Goans are so solidly devout that his visits must be to less faithful and more faltering Catholics. Or perhaps he has heard the garbage problem and wants to avoid the BJP blaming him for it. Roland.