A senior official of the Vatican on Wednesday said the future of the world and the future of the Church pass through India and Asia, adding that Pope Francis has “India in his heart”. Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai hosted a reception for a nine-member delegation from the Vatican at the Raj Bhavan in Goa on Wednesday. The delegation included Cardinal-designates Archbishop George Jacob Koovakad and Monsignor Rolandas Makrickas, Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao and Simiao Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman also accompanied the delegation. Addressing the gathering, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, substitute for the Secretariat of State at the Vatican, said, “We are in a moment in the world when it is necessary to reinforce dialogue and invest in communication amongst us. I am convinced that in countries [such as] India, the authorities and the Catholic Church and other religions… they make efforts to talk to each other and that is the best way to bring people and country together. We are happy that the Holy Father [Pope] has India in his heart. He has… in his heart… Asia, because we know that the future of the world and future of the Church pass through India, through Asia and these people.” The nine-member delegation from the Vatican paid respects to the relics of St Francis Xavier Tuesday. The 45-day long decennial exposition of the sacred relics of the Spanish Jesuit missionary began last week. “Probably over eight million people will be visiting the exposition in these days. It [shows] that people are working hard and together with the Church. I bring to you the blessing and greetings of Pope Francis,” Archbishop Parra added. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao said he wished that the Goa Governor can play a significant role in ensuring that an official invitation is sent from the Union government to the Pope to visit India. “I think it will be a great blessing. I know that Pope Francis is longing to visit India. I am sure your Excellency [Governor] can play a role in ensuring that an official written invitation is sent by our Union government to the Holy Father [Pope], so all of us can have the joy of having the Pope visit our country,” he said. Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai said it is an auspicious moment in his personal life and in the history of Raj Bhavan that a delegation of high-ranking personalities from Rome visited the Raj Bhavan. Pillai said the event exemplified the enduring bond between India and the Vatican, celebrating unity, respect, and shared values. “I am from Kerala. I studied in a Christian school. I can say, now, Kerala is a cent percent literate state in India. The first credit goes to the missionaries and Christian institutions in the state for achieving this goal,” Pillai added.
