Pope Francis to pay crucial India visit next year

Pope Francis is planning to visit India next year and also expecting a trip to Mongolia later this year, according to Vatican News.

Speaking to reporters on board the papal plane on his way back to Rome from South Sudan, the Pope said that he will also pay a visit to Lisbon in Portugal in 2023.

Speaking about his planned journeys, he said, “I think India will be next, next year. On 29 September I will go to Marseilles, and there is the possibility that from Marseilles I will fly to Mongolia, but it has not yet been decided. It’s possible. I don’t recall another one this year. Lisbon.”

Pope Francis was invited to visit India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter’s visit to Rome in October 2021, nearly five years after negotiations for a papal visit to the South Asian country collapsed.

Before the invitation, Pope Francis signalled many times his desire to visit India which is home to 24 million Christians – around 2 per cent of the total Indian population.

Sharing images of his meeting with the Pope, PM Modi had written, “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.”

However, the exact details of the pope’s visit are yet to be revealed.

John Paul II was the last pope to visit India in 1999.

The visit assumes significance in view of the parliamentary election scheduled to take place next year when PM Modi is expected another term at the Centre.

Many believe that the pope’s visit could work in favour of the BJP in the general elections and boost PM Modi’s image as a leader who respects all religions and believes in co-existence and diversity.

Christians are in majority in three Indian states – Nagaland at 87.9 per cent, Mizoram at 87 per cent and Meghalaya at 74 per cent, according to the census. They form a significant number in many other states like Kerala and Goa.