Sri Lankan Catholics welcomed the recent announcement of a visit by Pope Francis planned for January, a church official said Wednesday, according to dpa reports.
"We are preparing for the visit," said Reverend Cyril Gamini, spokesman for the country's Catholic Church.
The pope was to visit from January 13 to 15, although the details of the schedule were yet to be finalized, said Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, in an earlier statement.
