Vatican Declares Sri Lanka Bombing Victims 'Witnesses of Faith'

The Vatican has officially recognized 167 Catholic victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka as "witnesses of faith," according to the country's Catholic Church. The announcement was made during a memorial vigil held on Monday at St. Anthony's Church in Colombo, one of the sites targeted in the attacks.

Hundreds of mourners, including representatives from Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic communities, gathered to honor the victims. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, revealed that Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, had included the names of the deceased in the official catalogue of faith witnesses. The victims were killed in attacks on St. Anthony's Church in Colombo and St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo.

Cardinal Ranjith explained that the recognition was granted due to the victims' "heroism" in the face of violent opposition motivated by "odium fidei," or hatred of the faith. He also acknowledged seven victims of other religions, stating they were "respectfully remembered." Witnesses of faith are individuals who sacrificed their lives for their religious beliefs.

The Vatican's decision follows Pope Francis's 2023 establishment of a new category to honor those who died while professing the Catholic faith. A special commission within the Vatican's saint making office has since compiled hundreds of cases for recognition, though these individuals are distinct from official martyrs who may be considered for beatification or sainthood.

The 2019 bombings, carried out by an Islamic State inspired group, killed more than 260 people, including 42 foreigners. Coordinated explosions struck three luxury hotels and three churches—two Catholic and one Protestant—during Easter Sunday services. The attacks marked one of the deadliest acts of violence in Sri Lanka's recent history.

Sri Lanka's Catholic Church has continued to call for further investigations into the bombings, particularly after a 2023 interview by British television Channel 4 featured a man claiming involvement in a conspiracy. The individual alleged that a local IS linked group, National Thowheed Jamath, collaborated with a senior state intelligence official to orchestrate the attacks. The purported goal was to destabilize the country and influence the presidential election in favor of then candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Vatican's recognition of the victims serves as both a spiritual tribute and a reminder of the unresolved questions surrounding the tragedy. As Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the aftermath, the Catholic community finds solace in the acknowledgment of their loved ones' sacrifice.