Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday had a “very warm meeting” with Pope Francis and invited him to visit India. The meeting was scheduled for only 20 minutes but went on for an hour where they discussed a wide range of issues, including climate change and poverty, according to the people familiar with the details of the meeting.
“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. @Pontifex,” PM Modi tweeted.
Pope John Paul II was the last Papal visit to India in 1999 when Atal Bihar Vajpayee was the prime minister. The invitation for another Papal visit has been extended during PM Modi’s prime ministerial term.