Vatican City: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Pope Francis a silver candlestick and a book on the commitment to the environment, during their first-ever meeting at the Vatican today.
In exchange, the Pope gifted PM Modi a bronze plaque with the inscription “The desert will become a garden”, volumes of papal documents, his message for World Day of Peace and the document on Human Fraternity, signed on February 4 of 2019 in Abu Dhabi by the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, said Vatican News.
The Prime Minister’s visit to the Vatican lasted nearly an hour. “Pope Francis on Saturday received in the Vatican Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first-ever meeting between the two leaders.”
PM @narendramodi was received by Pope Francis @Pontifex in Vatican today.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 30, 2021
The two leaders exchanged views on various issues, including climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.
PM also extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit India at an early date. pic.twitter.com/9aucYJsV3r
“After holding talks with the Pope, Modi was received by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher,” it said.
“During a brief conversation, the cordial relations between the Holy See and India were discussed,” said a brief note by the Holy See Press office soon after the visit. (UNI)
