Srilanka, April 23 -- Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a message of condolence, over the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis yesterday, said that Pope Francis was a radical who brought new thinking to the Church.

The message:

It is with great sadness that I join with millions to extend my deepest condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.

After a life-threatening illness, His Holiness was recovering very slowly and his death was an unexpected blow at a time of global turmoil, politically and economically. His Holiness Pope Francis was a radical, who brought in new thinking to the Church.

It also resulted in the traditionalists having to think anew of their interpretations in relation to the 21st Century. This ...