Reports in Rome said that the Pope has accepted the invitation and if he does visit India, it will be the first papal visit since 1999 when the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. The discussions and invitations are significant as they come against the backdrop of a heated debate on conversion between right-wing and church organizations in India and in the light of the passing of laws by several BJP-ruled states in this regard.
The meeting between Modi and the Pope will also be viewed in the context of reports from Western agencies, both public and private, that religious freedom in India has declined, and the government’s argument that its policies, which include a number of welfare measures, are discriminatory. Doesn’t do any section.
The private meeting at the Apostolic Palace was described in a statement from the Vatican as a “brief” conversation. This was the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the Vatican in two decades, the last time Vajpayee was in 1999 when Pope John Paul II visited India.
Official sources said Modi has tried to connect with the Christian community. In February 2015, he addressed the celebration of the sainthood of Kuriakos Elias Chavara and Mother Euphrasia. He also attended the 90th birth anniversary celebrations of Joseph Mar Thoma on June 27, 2020.
Sources said Modi has also raised the issue in his Mann Ki Baat, where he has talked about handing over the holy relic or emblem of India. saint rani ketevi Georgia by the Minister of Foreign Affairs himself. Modi had said, “The ceremony, which took place in a very emotional atmosphere, was attended by the President of Georgia, the Prime Minister, many religious leaders and a large number of Georgians.” The Prime Minister has regularly spoken about the message of Christ in his radio talks and also noted the legacy of people like Mother Teresa. Sources said the government has worked hard to rescue people trapped or taken hostage in places like Libya.
“During today’s meeting, the two leaders discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences for people around the world. They also discussed the challenge posed by climate change,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. briefed about India’s success in delivering one billion Covid-19 vaccination doses along with ambitious initiatives taken by India in tackling climate change.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that Modi also extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit India at the earliest, which was happily accepted.
Modi’s optics, often called a Hindu nationalist in the West, is likely to embrace Pope Francis that some would say could quell inter-religious discord. The BJP-led government has left no stone unturned in criticizing the “forced conversions” by Christian missionaries, especially in remote tribal areas of India. However, Modi has taken care to join the Christian community.
According to the Vatican statement, Modi also met Vatican Foreign Minister Pietro Parolin and the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
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