Had A “Very Warm Meeting” With Pope Francis, Says PM Modi As He “Invites” The Catholic Head To India

VATICAN CITY: The Prime Minister held a historic one-on-one meeting with the Pope Francis on Saturday ahead of the delegation-level talks focused on global pandemic, sustainable development and tackling climate change.

The Indian prime minister said he had a warm meeting with the Catholic head and also invited him to India.

“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,” Modi posted on his Twitter handle.

PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Rome for the G20 Summit at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister whom Francis, the head of the Catholic church, has met after becoming Pope in 2013.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar accompanied Modi who also called on Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican City State.

Modi is also the first Indian Prime Minister Francis has met since becoming Pope in 2013.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan had said yesterday that there was no set agenda for the talks with the Pope. “I believe tradition is not to have an agenda when you discuss issues with His Holiness. And I think we respect that. I am sure the issues that will be covered would be on a range of areas of interests in terms of the general global perspectives and issues that are important to all of us.

Modi will be holding bilateral meetings at the G-20 summit with premiers of France, Indonesia and Singapore.

The Indian prime minister on Friday met top European leaders who lauded India’s tremendous progress on Covid vaccination. Modi also interacted wit the Indian community.

Modi will depart Rome on October 31.