President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed his acknowledgements over the passing of the former Pope Benedict XVI.It is with unhappiness that individuals of Sri Lanka, especially those of the Catholic faith and I share, with His Holiness Pope Francis and the Catholic neighborhood worldwide, heartfelt acknowledgements on the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the President stated taking to Twitter.

He leaves a footprint of ecumenical dialogue, he added.Former Pope Benedict XVI died today (Dec 31) at Mater Ecclesiae abbey within the walls of the Vatican, nearly a years after he stood down due to ailing health.Benedict invested his last years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery.

He led the Catholic Church for less than 8 years till, in 2013, he became the very first Pope to resign given that Gregory XII in 1415.-with inputs from companies.

This short article very first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk