The Machiavellian of the Church Turns 79: When Will the Cardinal Make Way for a New Generation?
By Adolf
As Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith celebrates his 79th birthday today, perhaps it is time for a more fundamental question than birthday wishes: when will the Archbishop of Colombo finally consider stepping aside and allowing a new generation of Church leadership to emerge?
The Cardinal’s tenure has increasingly become associated, in the eyes of his critics, with political manoeuvring and an unusually close engagement with the country’s political establishment. His public relationships with successive presidents have raised questions about the boundary between spiritual leadership and political influence.
There is a perception that he has been particularly adept at cultivating relationships with those in power, only to distance himself when the political winds change. Whether one calls it political pragmatism or political opportunism, the Church should not be seen as another player in Sri Lanka’s political chessboard.
A Cardinal’s primary responsibility is to shepherd his flock, provide spiritual guidance, promote reconciliation and stand above the political divisions of the day. The moral authority of the Church comes from its independence, compassion and integrity, not from its proximity to the corridors of power.
The question is whether the Cardinal has become too comfortable with the political influence that comes with his office. His critics would argue that the Church has, at times, appeared to be drawn into political battles rather than remaining a moral compass for the nation. This is an uncomfortable but necessary conversation.
The greatest test of his leadership remains the Easter Sunday tragedy of 2019. More than 250 innocent people lost their lives in an attack that devastated the Catholic community and shook the country. The Cardinal subsequently became one of the strongest voices demanding accountability from those responsible for the intelligence and security failures.
However, questions and allegations about what different individuals knew before the attacks have continued to circulate. It is important to distinguish allegations from established findings. The Church has categorically denied that the Cardinal received advance intelligence or knew of the impending attacks. There is no established finding that he was informed by his security personnel before the bombings. His decision not to conduct a public Easter Sunday morning Mass has also been questioned, although the traditional principal Easter celebration was the midnight Mass. These matters should be discussed on the basis of evidence, not insinuation.
Nevertheless, the wider question of accountability remains. The Supreme Court’s findings against senior state officials, including the former Defence Secretary and IGP, over the failure to prevent the attacks underline the gravity of the institutional failures. The families of victims still deserve truth, justice and closure. The Cardinal’s and his teams relentless crusade for accountability following the Easter Sunday attacks has also left a complicated legacy. While his demand for justice for the victims and their families was entirely legitimate, the intensity of his public campaign, particularly in the context of the legal proceedings and the death sentences imposed on former senior security officials, including the former Defence Secretary and IGP, has left an uncomfortable impression among sections of the public. The perception that the Church’s leadership became deeply entangled in a campaign with significant political and legal consequences has left a bitter taste. Justice must be pursued without fear or favour, but it must also be seen to be independent of political pressure, public emotion and institutional influence
Dignified Retirement
It is also fair to ask whether the Vatican has paid sufficient attention to the concerns surrounding the Cardinal’s public leadership and the relationship between the Church and politics in Sri Lanka. At 79, the question of succession should be addressed with sensitivity, but also with urgency.Retirement should not be viewed as a defeat or an indignity. It is an opportunity to leave with dignity and allow the next generation to take responsibility. The Church needs a shepherd who is kinder, gentler, less politically engaged and more focused on faith, compassion, reconciliation and the spiritual needs of the Catholic community.
Pope Leo XIV, who has emphasised humility, service and the mission of the Church, should ensure that institutional renewal and the long-term interests of the faithful remain central to decisions about leadership.The Church is much bigger than any individual Cardinal. Its credibility must rest on its moral authority, not on political relationships or personalities.At 79, perhaps the greatest birthday gift the Cardinal could give the Church is to begin preparing the way for a new generation of leadership. The faithful deserve a shepherd, not a political strategist.
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