Sri Lankans want pope to delay visit

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Some Roman Catholic priests and laypeople in Sri Lanka are seeking the postponement of Pope Francis’ trip to the island nation next month, citing the visit’s closeness to the country’s presidential election and possible violence linked to the poll.

Francis is due to arrive in Sri Lanka for a three-day visit on Jan. 13, five days after the election.

Sri Lankan Catholic leader the Rev. Leo Perera has written to the country’s bishops, noting that past elections have been followed by violence, and saying that Francis’ presence during a period of turmoil could “sully the image of the papacy.”

Perera suggested that the bishops recommend to the Vatican that the pope’s visit be postponed.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his former health minister, Maithripala Sirisena, are vying for the position.

Meanwhile, the Christian Solidarity Movement, a Sri Lankan human-rights group, said it had decided to write to the Vatican asking that the pope not be “trapped” in politics. In a statement seen by The Associated Press on Saturday, the Rev. Sarath Id-damalgoda said that at a recent meeting, members of the movement expressed opposition to Francis’ images being used in campaign billboards.

Billboards with the images of Rajapaksa posing with Francis have been erected in many parts of the country where Catholics live in large numbers.