The meeting elicits a brief Vatican statement and a warm tweet by the prime minister. Card Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, is “delighted” about the tête-à-tête between the Pope and Modi and the invitation.

 

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – The Vatican issued a brief communiqué today, announcing the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Vatican.

“Today, 30 October, the Holy Father Francis received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Mr. Narendra Modi.

“Subsequently, in the Secretariat of State, the Indian Prime Minister greeted His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

“During a brief conversation, the cordial relations between the Holy See and India were discussed.”

The meeting lasted from 8.25 am to 9.20 am, the Italian service of Vatican News reported.

Since the press release referred to a “brief conversation” and “cordial relations”, the diplomatic language suggests a certain coldness between the two.

By contrast, the Indian leader tweeted: “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.”

Francis had already been invited in 2017 ahead of his apostolic visit to neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar in 2018, but it fell through.

If Francis accepts this invitation, he will be the third pontiff to travel to India after Paul VI in 1964 and John Paul II in 1986 and 1999.

When it was time for the traditional exchange of gifts, Modi gave the Pope a silver candlestick and a book on the commitment to the environment. Francis reciprocated with a bronze plaque with the inscription “The desert will become a garden”, tomes of papal documents, his message for World Day of Peace, and the document on Human Fraternity, signed on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi by the Pope himself and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

Differences notwithstanding, the 2021 Report on Religious Freedom in the World, published by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), highlights repeated violations of religious freedom (guaranteed by Article 25 of the Indian constitution) and anti-Christian violence in India.

In fact, in reporting the meeting, the Italian service of Vatican News wrote: “In a context of anti-Christian violence, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has always sought dialogue with the government for the good of the country.”

Despite everything, Card Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), told AsiaNews that he was very happy about the meeting between the Pope and Modi.

In his view, “the meeting between PM Modi and Pope Francis will show the necessity and the utility of collaboration, and will result in greater communication and collaboration. I think it will be good for the Catholic Church, India and PM Modi himself.”

Indeed, “it is important that the Church and the Government work together. I know that this is also what the Holy Father wants.”

The cardinal said that he was “delighted” about the invitation to the Pope to visit India. “The Holy Father has always told me of his desire to come”.

Once in the country, “Pope Francis will be happy to see the faith of the people and the spirituality of the people of other faiths. The diversity and culture of us Indians will touch the heart of the Holy Father”.

By the same token, “This will be very good for all the peoples of our beloved motherland India and the Pope will be welcomed by peoples of all faiths.” (FP)

• india
• vatican
• meeting
• pope francis
• prime minister narendra modi
• catholic church
• papal visit
• violence