Rome [Italy] : Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Pope Francis to visit India during a “very warm” meeting at the Vatican City which lasted for an hour on Saturday, sources said. The meeting was scheduled only for twenty minutes however, it went on for an hour, sources said. PM Modi and the Pope discussed a wide range of issues aimed at making our planet better such as fighting climate change and removing poverty. It may be recalled that the last Papal Visit happened in 1999 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and Pope John Paul II came.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Pope Francis at the Vatican today
"Had a very warm meeting with Pope Francis. I had the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues with him and also invited him to visit India," says PM. pic.twitter.com/CBiopLlFEV
Now it is during PM Modi’s term that the Pope has been invited to visit India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from the Vatican City after his meeting with Pope Francis on Saturday ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit. PM Modi was accompanied by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar. The Vatican is a city-state surrounded by Rome and is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Vatican City to meet Pope Francis
Prime Minister arrived in Italy on Friday to participate in the two-day G20 Summit. This summit will be the eighth G20 Summit attended by the Prime Minister. PM Modi will participate in the G20 opening session on Global Economy and Global Health. He is also scheduled to have a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and a meeting with the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo. PM Modi is expected to have a meeting with Singapore PM Lee Hosein Loong as well. In the evening, PM is scheduled to arrive at Terme di Diocleziano for a cultural programme. Later, there is a dinner planned for G20 leaders and partner countries. While briefing about the Prime Minister’s engagements in Italy, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday said that PM Modi will discuss the global economic situation, COVID-19 pandemic, sustainable development and climate change with G20 leaders. On Friday, PM Modi met with top European Union leaders and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. They congratulated Prime Minister Modi for India’s excellent progress on the COVID-19 vaccination. Prime Minister also interacted with members of the Indian community-based in Italy and those who have a close association with India through spheres like academics. PM Modi will be in the capital city of Italy till October 31.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Vatican City to meet Pope Francis pic.twitter.com/rWCNxl7mVI
Pope Francis appreciates India’s assistance to countries during COVID pandemic: MEA
New Delhi [India] : Head of Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis appreciated India’s assistance to countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release. PM Modi and Francis discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences for people across the world when both met at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican earlier on Saturday. He also briefed the Pope about the ambitious initiatives taken by India in combating climate change as well as India’s success in administering one billion Covid-19 vaccination doses, the release read. The prime minister also extended an invitation to Pope to visit India at an early date, which was accepted with pleasure, the release added. It was the first-ever meeting between PM Modi and Pope Francis. PM Modi and Pope also discussed the challenge posed by climate change. MEA said that the it was the first meeting between an “Indian Prime Minister and the Pope in more than two decades”. In June 2000, late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had last visited the Vatican and met the then Pope John Paul II. “India and The Holy See have friendly relations dating back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948. India is home to the second-largest Catholic population in Asia,” MEA said.
