Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, met Pope Francis with a warm embrace at the Outreach session of the G7 Summit in Italy’s Apulia. PM Modi invited the Pope to visit India.
The Indian Prime Minister also said that he admired the pontiff’s commitment to serving the people.
“Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
PM Modi was also seen in a light-hearted exchange with the 87-year-old head of the worldwide Catholic Church, who was taken around the table in a wheelchair to greet each of the world leaders gathered at the summit venue of Borgo Egnazia.
PM Modi and his party, BJP, have made several overtures to the Christian community before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In his address at the Outreach session on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean, the Pope said: “It is up to each of us to make good use of AI.”
The Outreach session was attended by the participants of the G7 and other leaders of the Global South invited by Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in her capacity as president of this year’s summit.
She greeted the “Holy Father” and then joined him as he greeted leaders with handshakes including US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
PM Modi met Pope Francis during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican in October 2021.
At the time, the two leaders discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences for people across the world. They also discussed the challenges posed by climate change.
PM Modi briefed the Pope about the ambitious initiatives taken by India in combating climate change as well as the country’s success in administering one billion Covid-19 vaccination doses. The Pope is said to have appreciated India’s assistance to countries in need during the pandemic.
With inputs from PTI
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