A Christian group is asking Pope Francis to postpone his Sri Lanka trip next year due to its close proximity with country's presidential election date, which will be held on January 9.
The Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM) said that the papal visit has been scheduled for January 13 to 15, five days apart from the presidential elections, and worried that Pope Francis might be "exploited" and used as a "political tool."
The group said that photo-shopped images of the Pope together with political candidates have already sprouted up in the country. "We do not want see the pictures of the Pope used by any politician," CSM said in a statement.
The group expressed their appreciation for Pope Francis' "love for the poor and marginalized. We appreciate his efforts to bring about changes in the Church."
Pope Francis visited Turkey last November 28 to 30 and called for an end to the violence hounding the Middle East. He hoped that a dialogue with Islam would help reduce warfare and the persecution of Iraqi and Syrian Christians.