Courtesy: AI Overview

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While there have been demands from Sinhala Buddhist groups and social critics for a formal apology from the Vatican for the crimes committed by the Portuguese under the influence of Papal Bulls, the Vatican has not issued an official, specific apology directly to the nation of Sri Lanka for these historical events. 

The Vatican has, however, issued broader apologies for its historical role in justifying colonialism. 

Calls for an Apology from Sri Lanka

Buddhist Groups: Buddhist nationalist groups and activists, such as the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and social critics like Senaka Weeraratna, have publicly demanded that the Pope and the Vatican apologize for the atrocities committed by Portuguese colonizers against Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, their temples, and places of worship.

·  During Papal Visits: These calls intensified, particularly around Pope Francis’ visit to Sri Lanka in 2015, with activists arguing that previous Popes had apologized to other groups (such as Indigenous Canadians, Jews, and Africans) and a similar gesture should be extended to Sri Lanka.

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·  Historical Context: Historical records detail the destruction and plundering of numerous ancient revered Buddhist and Hindu temples and the forced conversions that occurred during Portuguese rule, which critics link to the colonial mindset fostered by certain Papal decrees. 

Vatican’s Position

• General Apologies for Colonialism: In March 2023, the Vatican issued a statement officially apologizing for its role in helping European powers to colonize the world, repudiating the “doctrine of discovery” and the concepts that failed to recognize the inherent human rights of Indigenous peoples, which were rooted in 15th-century Papal Bulls. This was a general apology for the mindset and doctrines that enabled colonialism, but not an apology specifically addressed to Sri Lanka and the Sinhala Buddhists in particular who suffered the most, for Portuguese actions.

• Specific Apologies to Indigenous Peoples: Pope Francis has also made specific, humble apologies to Indigenous peoples in Canada and Bolivia for “grave sins” and “evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples” in those specific contexts.
• No Specific Apology to Sri Lanka: There is no public record of the Vatican or any Pope issuing a formal, specific apology to the government or people of Sri Lanka for the crimes committed by the Portuguese during the colonial era. 

In summary, while the Vatican has acknowledged and apologized for the general concept of the “doctrine of discovery” and colonial-era injustices in some contexts, it has not specifically apologized to Sri Lanka and the Sinhala Buddhists as demanded by some groups. 

Courtesy: AI Overview