Sri Lankan Catholics Petition Church to Recognize Easter Bombing Victims as Martyrs

More than 50,000 Catholics in Sri Lanka have petitioned the Church to recognize the 171 victims of the 2019 Easter bombings as martyrs. On April 21, 2019, eight suicide bombers attacked two Catholic churches, a Protestant church, and three luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, killing 269 people and leaving over 500 injured. Of the victims, 171 were Catholic faithful attending Mass at St. Sebastian and St. Anthony Churches in Colombo.

Five years after the tragedy, the local Church announced it will begin the procedures to acknowledge the martyrdom of the 171 Catholics. The Archdiocese of Colombo will now send an official request to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to proceed with the opening of the diocesan phase of the beatification cause. The collection of signatures and raising awareness among the faithful has been underway since the beginning of Lent, and there is a strong awareness of the gift of faith of those innocent people who were murdered in the church while celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

Why this matters: The recognition of the Easter bombing victims as martyrs by the Catholic Church would provide comfort and honor to the families and the Sri Lankan Catholic community that was deeply shaken by the attacks. It also highlights the ongoing struggle for religious freedom and the persecution faced by Christians in various parts of the world.

On the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, on April 21, 2024, the faithful participated in memorial Masses and a special ceremony presided over by Cardinal Ranjith at St. Anthony Church, where he reiterated the church's longstanding call for justice and urged an international, independent investigation into the 2019 attacks. The Catholic community in Sri Lanka continues to confront the aftermath of the devastating bombings as they seek to have the victims officially declared as martyrs by the Church.

Key Takeaways

• Over 50,000 Catholics in Sri Lanka petition to recognize 171 Easter bombing victims as martyrs.
• The Archdiocese of Colombo will request the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to begin beatification.
• Recognizing the victims as martyrs would honor the faithful and highlight religious persecution of Christians.
• On the 5th anniversary, the community held memorial Masses and called for an independent investigation.
• The Catholic community in Sri Lanka continues to seek official martyr declaration by the Church.