Pope Francis met former president Rajapaksa

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( January 15, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) After canonizing Sri Lanka's first saint and traveling to a northern jungle to Sri Lanka's holiest Christian shrine, Francis also met with the ousted president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the Vatican embassy.

Lombardi said Rajapaksa, who lost power in an election he called just days before Francis arrived, wanted to keep the encounter private.

Francis then met with Sri Lankan bishops, whose meeting had been scuttled on Tuesday because Francis was too tired after greeting dignitaries and crowds upon his arrival.