Malcolm Ranjith

Early life and education

As the eldest of fourteen children, Malcolm Ranjith was born in Polgahawela to Don William and Mary Winifreeda. He 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 Kandy. He was thereafter sent by the then Archbishop Thomas Cooray to further his priestly studies in Rome, he graduated from the Pontifical Urbanian University with a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree.

On 29 June 1975, Malcolm Ranjith was ordained to the priesthood by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter's Square. Later the cardinal had joined the tutorial staff of St. Thomas' College, Kotte before he pursued post graduate studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, from where he obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture in 1978; his thesis centered on the Epistle to the Hebrews. During his time at the Biblical Institute, he studied under Carlo Martini and Albert Vanhoye (both future cardinals), he also attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where he undertook scriptural research as a postgraduate student.

Priestly ministry

Upon his return to Sri Lanka, Ranjith became an assistant parish priest in Pamunugama in 1978, later serving as a parish priest in Payagala and Kalutara. His pastoral work among the poor but religious people in these fishing villages led him to become involved with social justice. He also established "Seth Sarana", a center for poor relief in the Archdiocese of Colombo. He once said that "love for the liturgy and love for the poor...have been the compass of my life as a priest."

In 1983, Ranjith was named the National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies. He revived the Society of the Holy Childhood and, as Diocesan Co-ordinator for Human Development, he introduced bold initiatives in areas such as housing, fisheries and various self-employment projects.

Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo

On 17 June 1991, Ranjith was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo and Titular Bishop of Cabarsussi. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 31 August from Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando, with Bishops Thomas Savundaranayagam and Oswald Gomis serving as co-consecrators. He served as the Vicar General in charge of Parochial Apostolate and Lay Apostolate from 1991 to 1995. His peers elected him the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka as well. As the Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Beatification of Ven. Joseph Vaz and the visit of Pope John Paul II to Sri Lanka in January 1995, certainly impressed the Church leaders.

First Bishop of Ratnapura

Ranjith was also the first bishop appointed by the Holy See to the newly created Diocese of Ratnapura. Ranjith took office as Bishop of Ratnapura on 2 November 1995. His appointment was hailed as a welcome spark to kindle the fire of missionary zeal in the hearts of the clergy and laity in his diocese.

Ranjith promoted inter-faith dialogue in Sri Lanka as he believes it can eliminate potential causes of tensions and disagreements between the religious and ethnic groups that make up the country. He once said that "dialogue is vital and fundamental and as Catholics we must celebrate the richness of the Word of God incarnate in our life, families and communities".

Adjunct Secretary

Ranjith is also the first Sri Lankan Bishop to be appointed to the Holy See's civil service. On 1 October 2001, he was named Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and simultaneously appointed President of the Pontifical Mission Societies by Pope John Paul II. It is the Pope's ministry for the coordination of the missionary efforts of the Church and involves overview and growth of the local Churches in mission countries.

This Ministry coordinates over 1100 Archdioceses, Dioceses, Apostolic Vicarates and Apostolic Prefectures as well as Sui Juris Missions. The Adjunct Secretary is the President as of the Pontifical Mission Societies, which are the instruments of the Pope for enhancing support through prayer and contributions for the mission of the Church.

Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor

Ranjith is the first Sri Lankan Bishop to be appointed a Papal Nuncio. He served in Jakarta as the Apostolic Nuncio (Pope's ambassador) to Indonesia and East Timor from 29 April 2004 until his return to Rome in December 2005. Indonesia consists of 17,000 islands. The Catholic Church nationwide numbers 37 Dioceses and has one of the biggest Catholic population amongst the countries in Asia, next to the Philippines being dominated by almost 88 million Catholics.

Upon his appointment as Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor, then-Bishop Ranjith was raised to the rank of Archbishop, holding the title of Titular Archbishop of Umbriatico from his promotion to the office of Papal Nuncio until his appointment as Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo.

During his tenure as Papal Nuncio he was instrumental in enhancing mutual relations between the Holy See and Indonesia. He won the admiration of the Church hierarchy for the important role he played in assisting the establishment of cordial relations between the local Churches and local authorities, whilst ensuring respect for the rights of the local Catholic Church throughout the country.

Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship

Archbishop Ranjith was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on 10 December 2005. He has described the liturgical reforms inspired by the Second Vatican Council as "a mixed bag of results." While praising the use of vernacular languages, he also criticized the "quasi total abandonment" of Latin and the "acceptance of all kinds of 'novelties' resulting from a secularizing and humanistic theological and liturgical mindset overtaking the West." He has also lamented the "banalization and obscuring of the mystical and sacred aspects of the liturgy in many areas of the Church in the name of a so-called Konzilsgeist (spirit of the Council)."

Ranjith opposes the reception of Communion in the hand and standing, once saying, "I think it is high time to...abandon the current practice that was not called for by Sacrosanctum Concilium, nor by Fathers, but was only accepted after its illegitimate introduction in some countries." A staunch supporter of the Tridentine Mass, Ranjith once said that bishops who opposed Summorum Pontificum were allowing themselves to be "used as instruments of the devil," accusing them of "disobedience...and even rebellion against the Pope." He once said, "I'm not a fan of the Lefebvrians...but what they sometimes say about the liturgy they say for good reason."

Archbishop Ranjith is fluent in ten languages; Italian, German, French, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, English, Sinhala and Tamil.

Archbishop of Colombo

On 16 June 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo. naming Joseph Di Noia as Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. [5] In a letter to Archbishop Ranjith, Pope Benedict said that "'I wish to express my sincere thanks for the fidelity, the commitment and competence with which you exercised that [Divine Worship secretary] office'" [6] Pope Benedict also expressed that "we have reason to be encouraged by the good you will be able to perform among the peoples of your land."

Archbishop Ranjith was among 34 other metropolitan archbishops [7] to receive his pallium from Pope Benedict on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on 29 June 2009. The Archbishop was greeted with warmth and solemnity upon his arrival in Sri Lanka on 31 July 2009. Upon his arrival he was received by the President of Sri Lanka, such high-profile reception being due to the status of the Archbishops of Colombo as leaders (Metropolites) of the Catholic community in the country. Archbishop Ranjith took formal canonical possession of the Metropolitan See of Colombo in a private ceremony on 5 August 2009 and celebrated the Mass for the solemn beginning of his pastoral ministry as Archbishop of Colombo on 8 August 2009, when he was publicly installed in the cathedra of the Archbishops of Colombo.

On 7 October 2009 Archbishop Ranjith issued new liturgical guidelines in his diocese. These include; "all faithful, including the religious, to receive Holy Communion reverently kneeling and on the tongue" as well as laymen being forbidden from preaching. In addition to this, priests are forbidden to bring elements or styles of worship from other religions into the liturgy.

In April 2010 Archbishop Ranjith was elected and took office as President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka.

Cardinal

On 20 October 2010 Pope Benedict XVI announced a Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals to be held on 20 November 2010, and made public the names of 24 Prelates he intended to raise to the Cardinalate on that occasion, Archbishop Ranjith being among those chosen for promotion to the Sacred College. Accordingly, Archbishop Ranjith was created a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church on the Consistory of 20 November 2010, and was assigned the title of Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucina. On 13 February 2011 Cardinal Ranjith took possession of his titular church in Rome.

Cardinal Ranjith participated as a cardinal-elector in the 2013 conclave which elected Pope Francis.

In addition to serving as archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Ranjith serves as a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. These memberships will be renewed every five years until his 80th birthday when he loses them on the same day he loses the right to vote in a conclave.