Vatican Recognizes Victims of Sri Lanka Easter Bombings as "Witnesses of Faith"

In a significant gesture, the Vatican has honored 167 individuals who lost their lives in the 2019 Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, designating them as "witnesses of faith." This announcement, which seems to be one of the last official actions of Pope Francis, was made during a vigil held in memory of the victims at St. Anthony's Church, one of the sites targeted in the attacks. The event saw the presence of numerous attendees, including leaders from various regions, as they commemorated the six-year anniversary of one of Sri Lanka's most devastating terrorist acts.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, expressed that these 167 victims were included in the Vatican's catalogue of witnesses due to their heroism and the violent opposition they faced for practicing their faith. He noted that they were specifically recognized for being victims of "odium fidei," or hatred of the faith, and also respectfully acknowledged seven individuals from other faiths who perished in the bombings. This formal recognition aligns with Pope Francis' establishment of a new category within the church to identify those who die for their Catholic beliefs, creating a commission to document these cases, which may eventually lead to beatification or sainthood.

The Easter attacks were carried out by local Muslim groups affiliated with the Islamic State, resulting in multiple suicide bombings at Catholic churches and luxury hotels during mass. Although authorities have charged numerous individuals in connection to the attacks, including those accused of providing training and indoctrination for the extremists, no convictions have been made yet amid an overwhelming number of charges. The situation is compounded by allegations that the government at the time may have suppressed investigations to protect those behind the attacks. Growing demands for a thorough investigation have been amplified after claims emerged about a purported collaboration between a local extremist group and high-ranking state intelligence officials, suggesting a conspiracy to create instability favorable to a specific political outcome.