COLOMBO: Pope Francis urged respect for human rights as he began a two-nation Asia tour in a windswept Sri Lanka Tuesday, bearing a message of peace and reconciliation after a decades-long civil war.

His visit, days after the surprise election of a new president, will focus on unity in a country struggling to heal the wounds of a 37-year conflict that pitted troops against Tamil separatists.

The Argentine pope’s second visit to Asia will also take in the Philippines, a bastion of Christianity in the region, where he is set to attract one of the biggest-ever gatherings for a head of the Catholic Church.

But in mostly Buddhist Sri Lanka, which has seen a rise in religious violence in recent years, he will focus on the role of the Church in a diverse society.

“The great work of rebuilding must embrace... promoting human dignity, respect for human rights, and the full inclusion of each member of society,” the pope said on his arrival in Colombo.

Human rights are a hugely contentious issue in Sri Lanka, which has alienated the international community by refusing to cooperate with a UN-mandated investigation into alleged wartime mass killing of civilians.

“The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth,” said the pope, battling strong gusts of wind that repeatedly blew his white cape over his head, and at one point took off his skullcap.

He was greeted at Colombo’s main airport by new President Maithripala Sirisena who took office only days ago.

Later, Pope Francis called on Sri Lanka’s religious leaders to work together for post-war reconciliation on the island, where bitter ethnic and religious divisions persist.

The pope said religious beliefs should never be a cause for violence — echoing his criticism on Monday of “deviant forms of religion” following deadly attacks by militants in France.

“What is needed now is healing and unity, not further conflict and division,” he told Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim leaders during a meeting in Sri Lanka’s capital, saying his thoughts were with the families of the victims of the country’s 37-year civil war.

“May the growing spirit of cooperation between the leaders of the various religious communities find expression in a commitment to put reconciliation among all Sri Lankans at the heart of every effort to renew society and its institutions.”