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A number of prominent Roman Catholic priests and laypeople in Sri Lanka are appealing to Pope Francis to put off a scheduled visit, saying the government is using the occasion as propaganda to imply the pope’s support for President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is seeking an unprecedented third term in office.via: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/world/asia/sri-lanka-pope-francis-president-mahinda-rajapaksa-election.html?emc=edit_tnt_20141203&#38;nlid=68542801&#38;tntemail0=y&#38;_r=1