Malcolm Ranjith

His Eminence Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don
Cardinal, Archbishop of Colombo
Archdiocese	Colombo
Province	Colombo
See	Colombo, Sri Lanka
Appointed	16 June 2009
Installed	5 August 2009
Predecessor	Oswald Gomis
Other posts	Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Lucina
Orders
Ordination	29 June 1975 by Pope Paul VI
Consecration	17 June 1991 by Nicholas Marcus Fernando
Created Cardinal	20 November 2010 by Benedict XVI
Rank	Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth name	Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don
Born	(1947-11-15) 15 November 1947 Polgahawela, British Ceylon
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	Don William and Mary Winifreeda
Previous post	Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo (1991–1995) Titular Bishop of Cabarsussi (1991–1995) Bishop of Ratnapura (1995–2001) Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (2001–2004) Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia (2004–2005) Apostolic Nuncio to Timor-Leste (2004–2005) Titular Archbishop of Umbriatico (2004–2009) Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2005–2009)
Coat of arms	Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don's coat of arms

Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Ranjith (Sinhala: පටබැඳිගේ දොන් ඇල්බට් මැල්කම් රංජිත්) (born 15 November 1947), often known simply as Malcolm Ranjith or Albert Malcolm Ranjith is a Sri Lankan prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the Archbishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka, since 2009. He was made a cardinal in 2010.

Ranjith previously served as auxiliary bishop of Colombo (1991–1995), Bishop of Ratnapura (1995–2001), Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (2001–2004), Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor (2004–2005), and Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2005–2009).

Early life and education

On 29 June 1975, Malcolm Ranjith was ordained to the priesthood by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter's Square. Later he joined the tutorial staff of St. Thomas' College, Kotte.

Episcopal career

Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo

In 1994, Ranjith led a commission that denounced the theological work of Sri Lankan theologian Tissa Balasuriya. He charged that he had questioned original sin and the divinity of Christ, as well as supporting women's ordination. Ranjith was supported by then-Cardinal Ratzinger, who backed his position.

Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor

Ranjith is the first Sri Lankan bishop to be appointed an Apostolic Nuncio. He was appointed titular archbishop of Umbriatico and the Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia and to East Timor on 29 April 2004.

Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship

Ranjith was appointed secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on 10 December 2005.

He once said, "I'm not a fan of the Lefebvrians ... but what they sometimes say about the liturgy they say for good reason."

Ranjith is fluent in ten languages namely; Italian, French, German, Hebrew, Greek, Spanish, Latin, English, Sinhala and Tamil.

Styles of Albert Malcolm Ranjith
200px
Reference style	His Eminence
Spoken style	Your Eminence
Informal style	Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo

On 16 June 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo, naming Joseph Di Noia to replace him at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. In a letter to Archbishop Ranjith, Pope Benedict said, "I wish to express my sincere thanks for the fidelity, the commitment and competence with which you exercised that [Divine Worship secretary] office." Pope Benedict also expressed that "we have reason to be encouraged by the good you will be able to perform among the peoples of your land."

Ranjith was among 34 metropolitan archbishops to receive his pallium from Pope Benedict on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on 29 June 2009.

On 7 October 2009, Ranjith issued new liturgical guidelines in his diocese. These include a recommendation for "all faithful, including the religious, to receive Holy Communion reverently kneeling and on the tongue", as well as laymen being forbidden from preaching.

Cardinal

On 20 October 2010, Pope Benedict XVI announced he would make Ranjith a cardinal at a consistory scheduled for 20 November 2010.

Ranjith participated as a cardinal-elector in the 2013 conclave which elected Pope Francis.

Ranjith is a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Arnaldo Clemente Canale	— TITULAR — Titular Bishop of Cabarsussi 17 June 1991 – 2 November 1995	Succeeded by José María Pinheiro
Diocese created	Bishop of Ratnapura 2 November 1995 – 1 October 2001	Succeeded by Harold Anthony Perera
Position created	Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples 1 October 2001 – 29 April 2004	Succeeded by Henryk Hoser
Preceded by Joseph Hisajiro Matsunaga	— TITULAR — Titular Archbishop of Umbriatico 29 April 2004 – 16 June 2009	Succeeded by Santo Rocco Gangemi
Preceded by Domenico Sorrentino	Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments 10 December 2005 – 16 June 2009	Succeeded by Joseph Augustine Di Noia
Preceded by Oswald Thomas Colman Gomis	Archbishop of Colombo 16 June 2009 –	Incumbent
Preceded by Joseph Vianney Fernando	President of the Sri Lankan Episcopal Conference 22 April 2010 – 21 February 2017	Succeeded by Julian Winston Sebastian Fernando
Preceded by Luigi Poggi	Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucina 20 November 2010 –	Incumbent
No prior officeholder	Vice-President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences 1 January 2019 –
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Renzo Fratini	Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia 29 April 2004 – 10 December 2005	Succeeded by Leopoldo Girelli
	Apostolic Nuncio to Timor-Leste 29 April 2004 – 10 December 2005