On 16 June 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Metropolitan Archbishop of Colombo, naming Joseph Di Noia as Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. In a letter to Archbishop Ranjith, Pope Benedict said, "I wish to express my sincere thanks for the fidelity, the commitment and competence with which you exercised that Worship secretary office." Pope Benedict also expressed that "we have reason to be encouraged by the good you will be able to perform among the peoples of your land."