Joseph Vaz

After over 300 years, efforts to canonize Indian-origin Catholic priest Joseph Vaz finally concluded with Pope Francis giving Sri Lanka its first Saint, a Goan.

Sri Lanka's first saint was a 17th century missionary whose role in reviving the Catholic faith during religious persecution by Dutch colonisers gives him a contemporary resonance on the island.

Pope Francis gave Sri Lanka its first saint at a waterfront Mass for more half a million people in Colombo on Wednesday, calling 17th century missionary Joseph Vaz a model of reconciliation after the country's recent civil war.

After over 300 years, efforts to canonize Indian-origin Catholic priest Joseph Vaz finally concluded with Pope Francis giving Sri Lanka its first Saint, a Goan.

Sri Lanka's first saint was a 17th century missionary whose role in reviving the Catholic faith during religious persecution by Dutch colonisers gives him a contemporary resonance on the island.

Pope Francis gave Sri Lanka its first saint at a waterfront Mass for more half a million people in Colombo on Wednesday, calling 17th century missionary Joseph Vaz a model of reconciliation after the country's recent civil war.