Archbishop Malcom Ranjith made Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo, Dr. Malcom Ranjith was elevated Cardinal by His Holiness Pope Benedict the XVI at the Vatican yesterday. The Cardinal received his red berretta at the Mass, amidst a large gathering of

Sri Lankan clergy and laity. Seventy Sri Lankan priests, six Members of Parliament, and 200 invitees witnessed the solemn and historic ceremony. "Bishop House" sources said the Cardinal will return to the country on November 27 around 8.00 a.m. when he be received by a large gathering of the faithful at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

He said the congregation at St. Lucia's Cathedral, Colombo too will welcome the Cardinal.

"The Holy Father has granted Cardinal Ranjith with some of his relatives a private audience tomorrow", sources said.

The Archbishop is the only Asian among the 24 cardinals drawn into to the much prestigious Sacred College of Cardinals, the highest ecclesiastical body of the Roman Catholic Church.

Following today's ceremony, the College of Cardinals will have 203 members, of whom 121 are electors, who are entitled to elect a Pope.

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith is the second Sri Lankan after the His Eminence late Thomas Cardinal Cooray to be anointed Cardinal. Malcolm Ranjith, born in Polgahawela to Don William and Mary Winifreeda, studied at the De La Salle College in Mutwal before entering St. Aloysius' Seminary in Borella in 1965. From 1966 to 1970, he pursued studies in theology and philosophy at the National Seminary in Ampitiya, Kandy and was later sent by the then Archbishop Cooray to further his priestly studies in Rome.

After he graduated from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome with a Baccalaureate in Theology (B.Th), in 1975, Malcolm Ranjith was ordained to the priesthood by Pope Paul VI at St. Peter's Basilica.