Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, was hospitalised in Colombo after falling ill during an official visit to Sri Lanka marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Sri Lankan state, forcing the cancellation of several engagements.
Gallagher, 71, who serves as the Vatican’s equivalent of foreign minister, arrived on the island on 3 November for a six-day visit. His schedule included meetings with senior government officials, clergy, and diplomatic representatives, as well as visits to churches targeted in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. However, he was admitted to the National Hospital in Colombo after experiencing a heart-related condition, according to medical sources.
An official at the Apostolic Nunciature in Colombo confirmed that Gallagher was “very tired and needed medication” and had been treated for a minor illness, declining to specify further details. Hospital sources confirmed that the prelate received treatment for a cardiac issue. He was discharged and left the country as scheduled on 8 November.
His sudden hospitalisation resulted in the cancellation of several high-profile engagements, including a planned visit to Kandy to meet senior Buddhist prelates of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters, and a trip to tsunami-affected areas in Galle.
There had been no plans for the Archbishop to visit the Tamil homeland in the North-East.
Despite the disruption, Gallagher met Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath earlier in the week. During their discussions, he reaffirmed the Vatican’s support for what Colombo describes as “peace and reconciliation efforts”.
Herath later stated that Sri Lanka viewed the Holy See as “a partner and a steadfast advocate for dialogue, inclusivity, and the protection of religious freedom”, adding: “We look forward to exploring new avenues for collaboration, particularly on global issues such as environmental sustainability and the challenges facing developing nations.”
Gallagher also visited St Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, one of two churches struck during the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, and attended a thanksgiving Mass at St Lucia’s Cathedral.
According to Father Jude Krishantha Fernando, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Colombo, Gallagher later met a group of Buddhist monks from Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya after recovering from his illness. “He had a minor illness and recovered soon,” he said.
The visit formed part of the Vatican’s commemoration of its 50-year diplomatic relationship with Sri Lanka, established in 1975. Church officials and government representatives framed the milestone as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in areas such as education, humanitarian assistance and interfaith engagement.
Archbishop Gallagher’s trip also prompted speculation in Colombo that Pope Leo XIV may consider a future visit to the island, although no official announcement was made.
In January 2015, Pope Francis made history by becoming the first pope to visit Tamil Eelam.
