The Vatican said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who invited the pope to make the visit to the country but was defeated in an election last week, paid a courtesy call to the pontiff at the Vatican embassy where he is staying. Papal spokesman Fr. Fedrico Lombade said that the Pope had a brief discussion with the former President Rajapaksa, who then invited the Pope to visit Sri Lanka, end of last year. Pope Francis concluded his visit to Sri Lanka today morning and left for the Philippines.