- Note that the image above was created by AI.
In a powerful tribute to the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, the Vatican will formally declare those killed in the attacks as ‘Heroes of the Faith’ on Monday, April 21, 2025, marking six years since the tragedy that shook Sri Lanka and the global Catholic community.
The announcement will be delivered in Katuwapitiya by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, who is expected to read a special statement from the Holy See, according to Father Jude Chrysanth, Director of Communications for the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.
The title ‘Heroes of the Faith’ is a deeply significant one in Catholic tradition, reserved for individuals who have sacrificed their lives for their unwavering belief in Jesus Christ. In conferring this honor, the Vatican acknowledges the victims not just as casualties of terrorism—but as martyrs of the faith.
Beyond the spiritual recognition, the Church is also expected to take a firm stance on the Sri Lankan government’s handling of the investigation into the bombings. Cardinal Ranjith is reported to be issuing a statement on the government’s progress—or lack thereof—in uncovering the full truth behind the coordinated suicide attacks that claimed over 260 lives at churches and hotels across the island.
The day will begin with a prayer procession from St. Lucia’s Cathedral to St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, one of the bombed sites. The procession is scheduled to start at 7:00 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 8:30 a.m., expected to draw diplomats, clergy, and families of the victims.
A second memorial service will be held at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, another site of devastation during the Easter bombings. The dual commemorations aim to not only honor the deceased but to continue the call for justice, transparency, and healing.
For many, April 21 will be a day of remembrance and reckoning, as the Church seeks to ensure that the voices of the innocent are not lost in political noise—but lifted in sanctity and truth.
