Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don
Who was Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don?
Catholic Cardinal who serves as Archbishop of Colombo and has been a vocal advocate for human rights and reconciliation in post-war Sri Lanka.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don was born on November 15, 1947, in Polgahawela, Sri Lanka. He studied theology and scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, gaining a strong academic grounding for his career in the Church. After becoming a priest, he climbed the ranks in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, eventually becoming the auxiliary bishop of Colombo in 1991, a role he held until 1995. His early work showed strong administrative skills and a real dedication to his pastoral duties, which caught the attention of Church leaders in Rome.
In 1995, Ranjith became the Bishop of Ratnapura and served until 2001. He was then called by the Vatican to take on international duties as Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples from 2001 to 2004. This was followed by his service as Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor from 2004 to 2005, representing the Holy See in a region with significant geopolitical and religious challenges. His time there included dealing with the aftermath of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, which caused massive loss of life in the area.
From 2005 to 2009, Ranjith was the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments under Pope Benedict XVI, one of the top curial roles in the Vatican. He became linked with efforts to revive traditional liturgical practices, including the wider use of the Tridentine Mass. Known as a close collaborator of Benedict XVI, he played a key role in shaping the Church's liturgical approach during that time.
In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Ranjith as Archbishop of Colombo, bringing him back to Sri Lanka during a critical time for the nation. Sri Lanka had just ended a long civil war, and Ranjith took on a public role advocating for justice, reconciliation, and accountability. In 2010, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals, becoming a major Catholic influence in South Asia. His time as Archbishop has seen him actively involved in national issues, including making strong public statements after the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019, where terrorist attacks on churches and hotels killed over 260 people. Ranjith has continuously called for a thorough and open investigation and has been a leading voice seeking justice for the victims.
Before Fame
Albert Malcolm Ranjith was born in 1947 in Polgahawela, a town in Sri Lanka's North Western Province, during the last years of British rule and just months before Ceylon became independent in 1948. He grew up in a country facing major political and social changes, and being a Catholic in a mostly Buddhist nation influenced his views on interfaith relations and minority religious identity. He went on to study in Rome, attending the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Urbaniana University, known for their expertise in scripture and missionary theology.
He rose within the Church by following the usual path of ordination, serving in parishes and dioceses, and receiving higher episcopal appointments. Though the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is a minority, it has considerable historical and social importance due to its colonial-era influence and educational institutions. Ranjith's education in Rome prepared him for not only leading pastorally but also engaging with the Vatican's central administration, setting him up for a rare international career in the Church.
Key Achievements
- Appointed Archbishop of Colombo in 2009, the most senior Catholic ecclesiastical position in Sri Lanka
- Elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010
- Served as Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican from 2005 to 2009
- Represented the Holy See as Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor, navigating diplomacy in a region struck by the 2004 tsunami
- Became a leading national voice for justice and accountability following the April 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist bombings in Sri Lanka
Did You Know?
- 01.Ranjith served as Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor during the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed over 220,000 people across the region he represented diplomatically.
- 02.As Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship under Pope Benedict XVI, he was a prominent advocate for the restored use of the Traditional Latin Mass, sometimes called the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
- 03.Following the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, which targeted Catholic churches among other sites, Ranjith traveled to the Vatican and the United Nations to demand an international investigation into the attacks.
- 04.His full birth name, Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Ranjith, follows a Sri Lankan naming convention in which the family name precedes given names, though he is commonly referred to by his given names in Western usage.
- 05.Ranjith was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory of 20 November 2010, receiving the title of Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Lorenzo in Panisperna in Rome.