Colombo Archdiocese Refutes Reports on Cardinal Ranjith's Retirement

Reports circulating about His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith's retirement from his role as Archbishop of Colombo have been officially denied by the Archdiocese. Reverend Father Jude Chrysantha, Director of Mass Communications for the Archdiocese, stated that claims of the Cardinal stepping down by late 2026 are false. While some earlier reports suggested a potential departure by the end of this year (2024) as he approaches 79 years of age, the Archdiocese emphasized that decisions regarding an Archbishop's tenure are exclusively made by the Vatican. According to Canon Law, retirement is typically considered when an Archbishop reaches 80 years old, a milestone Cardinal Ranjith is expected to reach next year (2025), but the final determination rests solely with the Pope, and no official decision has been announced.