Sri Lanka on Pope watch: Francis' Galle face

 WAITING OVERNIGHT
 

Shreyan Madugalle plays on his phone as he waits with others for a mass to be held by Pope Francis on Wednesday, at the Galle Face in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. Pope Francis brought calls for reconciliation and justice to Sri Lanka on Tuesday as he began a weeklong Asian tour, saying the island nation can't fully heal from a quarter-century of brutal civil war without pursuing the truth about abuses that were committed. (AP)
 

Devotees rest with others as they wait to attend a mass by Pope Francis to be held Wednesday, at the Galle Face in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. Pope Francis brought calls for reconciliation and justice to Sri Lanka on Tuesday as he began a weeklong Asian tour, saying the island nation can't fully heal from a quarter-century of brutal civil war without pursuing the truth about abuses that were committed. (AP)

WHAT MIRACLE?

A Sri Lankan Catholic devotee Maxwell Silva, 70, poses for a photograph at a church  in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Silva said the Pope’s visit is a special occasion. He said Joseph Vaz after beatification had given them miracles and was qualified to be saint and that It was a privilege to be able to witness this. (AP)

DRUMS AND CHANTS



Pope Francis (C) during a welcoming ceremony in Colombo today. Pope Francis urged respect for human rights in Sri Lanka as he began a two-nation Asia tour on the island, bearing a message of peace and reconciliation after a long civil war. (AFP)

'A TURNING POINT IN THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY'


Pope Francis (R) kisses a child as he arrives for an inter-religous meeting at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo on January 13,  2015. Pope Francis arrived in Sri Lanka on January 13, bearing a message of peace and reconciliation among different faiths on the war-torn island as he began a two-nation Asia tour.  (AFP)
 

Pope Francis (5R), with religious leaders, attends an inter-religous meeting at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo on January 13,  2015. Pope Francis arrived in Sri Lanka on January 13, bearing a message of peace and reconciliation among different faiths on the war-torn island as he began a two-nation Asia tour.   (AFP)

RUNNING LATE

In this Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 photo, tarpaulin posters heralding the visit of Pope Francis dot the center island of an avenue in suburban Paranaque city south of Manila, Philippines. Well before Pope Francis' plane touches down in this Asian bastion of the Roman Catholic faith, Filipinos have been snapping their selfies beside his life-sized cutout image in churches and malls. His face beams from welcome posters, shirts, cookies, coins, stamps, coffee mugs and all imaginable mementoes. (AP)

This handout picture released on January 13, 2015 by the Vatican press office shows Pope Francis (L) waving to the crowd from the popemobile after his arrival in Colombo today. Pope Francis urged respect for human rights in Sri Lanka as he began a two-nation Asia tour on the island, bearing a message of peace and reconciliation after a long civil war.   AFP PHOTO / OSSERVATORE ROMANO/HO  RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "(AFP)

VOICES FROM THE CROWD


Pope Francis stands on his vehicle as devotees gather on the road to see him after he arrived at the Colombo airport January 13, 2015. Pope Francis said on Tuesday Sri Lanka needed to find out the truth of what happened during its long civil war in order to consolidate peace and heal scars between religious communities. (REUTERS)


ON THE ROAD TO COLOMBO



Pope Francis stands on his vehicle as devotees gather on the road to see him after he arrived at the Colombo airport January 13, 2015. Pope Francis said on Tuesday Sri Lanka needed to find out the truth of what happened during its long civil war in order to consolidate peace and heal scars between religious communities. (REUTERS)


'ALL MUST HAVE A VOICE'

Devotees gesture as Pope Francis arrives, in Colombo January 13, 2015. Pope Francis said on Tuesday Sri Lanka needed to find out the truth of what happened during its long civil war in order to consolidate peace and heal scars between religious communities. (REUTERS)


COLORFUL ARRIVAL

Pope Francis is greeted as he arrives at the Colombo airport January 13, 2015. Pope Francis said on Tuesday Sri Lanka needed to find out the truth of what happened during its long civil war in order to consolidate peace and heal scars between religious communities. (REUTERS)

CROWDS AND ELEPHANTS

Pope Francis is greeted as he arrives at the Colombo airport January 13, 2015. Pope Francis said on Tuesday Sri Lanka needed to find out the truth of what happened during its long civil war in order to consolidate peace and heal scars between religious communities. (REUTERS)

CATHOLIC BELT

Sri Lankan Catholic fathers attend a rehearsal of the celebration of the Papal Mass by Pope Francis in the capital Colombo on January 13, 2015. Thousands of pilgrims were pouring to a sea-front promenade for a mass by Pope Francis on January 14. Pope Francis urged respect for human rights as he began a two-nation Asia tour in a windswept Sri Lanka, bearing a message of peace and reconciliation after a decades-long civil war. His visit, days after the surprise election of a new president, will focus on unity in a country struggling to heal the wounds of a 37-year conflict that pitted troops against Tamil separatists. (AFP)

BY THE NUMBERS

In a picture taken on January 11, 2015, Sri Lankan Christians attend Sunday Mass at The Our Lady of Madhu church in Madhu. A small church nestled in a Sri Lankan wildlife reserve was on the frontline of the island's decades-long civil war, but is now preparing for the first ever papal visit seen as a beacon of harmony. (AFP)

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