New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday (October 30) and discussed issues covering several areas of interest, including COVID-19, fighting poverty and climate change. This was the first face-to-face meeting between PM Modi and Pope Francis and the first meeting of an Indian PM with the head of the Catholic Church in nearly 20 years.
According to sources, the meeting between PM Modi and Pope Francis was to be held for only 20 minutes, but it lasted for an hour. PM Modi gifts a silver candle and a book to the Pope – The Climate Climb: India’s strategy, actions and achievements on its commitment to the environment.
Whereas, the Pope gifted a bronze plaque with the inscription “The desert will become a garden”, the volume of papal documents with his message for World Peace Day and the Document on Human Fraternity, signed in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2019. Pope and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.
PM Modi described his visit as a “very warm meeting” and he also invited the Pontiff to visit India at the earliest.
Had a very warm meeting with Pope Francis. I had the opportunity to discuss many issues with him and also invited him to visit India. @ pontifex pic.twitter.com/QP0If1uJAC
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 30, 2021
The Secretary of State for the Vatican said “the cordial relations between the Holy See and India were discussed”. However, there is no mention of the invitation in the official release from the Vatican.
The Prime Minister also met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State for Vatican City State. PM Modi was accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Following the meeting with the Pope, the Prime Minister headed for the Group of 20 (G20) summit. The PM arrived in Italy on Friday (October 29) to participate in the two-day G20 summit. This summit will be the eighth G20 summit that Modi will attend.
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