Narendra Modi in Rome Highlights: Pope said Modi’s invitation to India ‘greatest gift’, says Foreign Secretary

PM Modi on Saturday invited French President Emmanuel Macron to visit India, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla during a press conference in Rome, Italy.

Delighted to meet my friend, President @EmmanuelMacron in Rome. Our talks revolved around enhancing cooperation in diverse areas and boosting people-to-people relations. pic.twitter.com/zFGPO4CPKH

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 30, 2021

As far as meeting with France President Emmanuel Macron is concerned, I do recall that AUKUS came up but it was not the major subject, there was no discussion on Quad, said Shringla, according to an ANI report.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, in a press conference, detailed the highlights of the first day of G20 summit. 

Here are some of the points mentioned by Shringla with regard to the coronavirus vaccine program. 

PM Modi invited G20 countries to make India their partner in economic recovery and supply chain diversification. He also brought out the fact that despite challenges of the pandemic, India continued to be a trusted partner in context of reliable supply chains.

PM conveyed that India is ready to produce 5 billion vaccine doses by the end of next year... We also believe that WHO's EUA for Covaxin would felicitate this process of assisting other countries

Prime Minister Modi highlighted India's contribution to fight against Covid-19 and mentioned India's medical supplies to over 150 countries, says Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, reports ANI.

In his intervention at the first session, PM highlighted India's contribution to fight against COVID. He mentioned India's medical supplies to over 150 countries &spoke about our vision of One Earth, One Health which is essentially collaborative approach in fight against COVID:FS https://t.co/fWwEXUTx8F pic.twitter.com/DxnNXApHyK

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2021

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla addresses a press conference on PM Modi's Rome visit. 

Speaking of the Vatican visit, Shringla says: The last papal visit to India was in 1999 when Pope John Paul II visited the country. Pope Francis has accepted PM Modi's invitation. In his own words, he said: "You (PM Modi) have given me the greatest gift. I am looking forward to visiting India". Pope Francis has accepted the PM Modi invitation and looking forward to visit India. The meeting between PM Modi and Pope Francis which was scheduled for 20 minutes, lasted for around  an hour.

The RSS on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican saying that the meeting was enhancing the prestige of the nation.

"What is wrong if the head of the government meets anyone in the existing civil system in the world? We welcome it because we believe in 'Vasudhava Kutumbakam' (the world is one family). We respect all the religions," the RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale told reporters in Bengaluru.

He was talking to reporters on the last day of the three-day Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (ABKM) meeting. "It is a matter of pleasure that the Prime Minister is meeting the heads of other nations and is increasing the prestige of our nation," Hosabale said. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a "fruitful meeting" with his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong here on Saturday during which they reviewed the full range of the friendly ties between the two countries. Modi met Prime Minister Lee on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

A fruitful meeting between Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @leehsienloong in Rome.

The two leaders reviewed the full range of the friendly ties between India and Singapore. pic.twitter.com/YJi7sRGNPR

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 30, 2021

"A fruitful meeting between Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @leehsienloong in Rome. The two leaders reviewed the full range of the friendly ties between India and Singapore," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted several world leaders at the G20 summit in Rome, Italy.

PM Narendra Modi with several world leaders at G20 Summit in Rome, Italy pic.twitter.com/DPWI04NJwb

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2021

With Christians being a community that the party wants to establish as its support base to retain power in poll-bound Goa and Manipur and to emerge as a formidable electoral force in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and his invitation to the Pontiff to visit India assumes much significance, sources in the BJP said.

There have been some voices of concern raised from within the Christian community cautioning Church leaders who have been trying to get closer to the BJP, even as the top clergy – including some from among the most influential Roman Catholics – has expressed keenness in engaging with the party brass at the Centre and in Kerala. Sources said there have been a series of dialogues between the two in Kerala in the last few months. (Read more)

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC), a body of Catholic Bishops in the State, on Saturday welcomed the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pope Francis by saying the decision to invite the pontiff to India was a historic one.

"Inviting Pope Francis to India was a historic decision and this will raise the stature of the country among the nations of the world. His visit will help to strengthen the diplomatic relation between both the countries. It will also help to nurture the relationship between various sects of Christianity and other religions," KCBC said in a release.

Cardinal Mar George Alenchery, the president of the KCBC, said all Indians, especially Christians, are glad to learn about the invitation extended by Modi. (PTI)

A few dozen protesters demanding that government leaders take incisive action on climate change have been carried away by police from the main boulevard near the G-20 summit site in Rome.

Hours before the leaders of the United States, Britain, France and other economic powerhouse nations arrived on Saturday for the start of the two-day gathering, the activists blocked the road, holding banners, including one that read, "From Rome to Glasgow, your solutions are the problem.'' On Sunday evening, many of the G-20 leaders will fly to Glasgow, Scotland, for a crucial climate summit. 

When the demonstrators refused to budge, police officers lifted them bodily and moved them to a side road, where the protesters continued to lie down or sit on the pavement, blocking traffic. (AP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome and the two leaders had "productive discussions" on a range of issues of mutual and global interests.

Prime Minister Modi, who is here at the invitation of his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi, was accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his meeting with Macron.

Productive discussions between PM @narendramodi and President @EmmanuelMacron on the sidelines of the @g20org Summit. India and France are cooperating extensively in various sectors. Today’s talks will add momentum to the bilateral ties between the two nations. pic.twitter.com/e8QgT6rkVy

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 30, 2021

The leaders of the United States, Germany, France and Britain will gather on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Rome later on Saturday to discuss the way forward in talks with Iran over its nuclear program.

Iran's talks with six world powers aimed at reviving a 2015 nuclear deal are slated to resume at the end of November, Iran's top nuclear negotiator said on Wednesday.German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron, who are all attending the G20 summit, will meet separately to discuss the issue.

A senior US administration official told reporters that the meeting was Merkel's initiative and would give the leaders an opportunity to go over the topic ahead of a critical period coming up. (Reuters)

he French presidency says European Union leaders will meet with African leaders in efforts to further support the continent's poorest economies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The informal meeting later Saturday will be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at France's embassy in Rome on the sidelines of the G-20 summit. Macron told reporters on Friday he expects the G-20 to confirm an additional $100 billion to support Africa's economies. (PTI)

Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter to share photos of his interactions with world leaders at the G20 summit in Italy. In the photos, Modi is seen interacting with US President Joe Biden, French leader Emmanuel Macron, Canada PM Justin Trudeau and UK PM Boris Johnson.

On the sidelines of the @g20org Rome Summit, PM @narendramodi interacts with various leaders. pic.twitter.com/7L3vbpRzUs

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 30, 2021

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on G20 countries on Saturday to accelerate the mutual recognition of each other's Covid-19 vaccines.

Putin, who remotely addressed the G20 summit in Rome by video link, also said that the World Health Organisation should be quicker to make decisions on approving vaccines. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a specially-made silver candelabra and a book on India's climate initiatives to Pope Francis on Saturday as they held their first one-to-one meeting in Vatican City.

Modi explained to the 84-year-old Pontiff that the candelabra was specially made and the book is on climate change, an issue close to the Pope.According to the Vatican News, the Prime Minister gifted the head of the Roman Catholic church a specially-made silver candelabra and a book, 'The Climate Climb: India's strategy, actions and achievements' during their meeting which lasted for an hour.

The Pope reciprocated with 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, it said. (Read more)

The prime minister took to Twitter to share a photograph from the G20 summit. Seen with Modi are other prominent world leaders like German chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK PM Boris Johnson, among others.

At the @g20org Summit in Rome with other world leaders. pic.twitter.com/fIYozTMy5f

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 30, 2021

PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron were seen interacting in the sidelines of the G20 summit. A brief video showed the world leaders conversing before the 'family photo' at Roma Convention Center in Rome, Italy.

#WATCH | G20 Summit: PM Narendra Modi had a brief interaction with French President Emmanuel Macron before 'family photo' at Roma Convention Center in Rome, Italy pic.twitter.com/HY3pGyiu4c

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2021

PM Narendra Modi and other world leaders participate in session on 'Global Economy and Global Health (Working Lunch)' at Roma Convention Centre in Rome, Italy.

G20 Summit: PM Narendra Modi and other world leaders participate in session on 'Global Economy and Global Health (Working Lunch)' at Roma Convention Centre in Rome, Italy pic.twitter.com/gQg0uKpDRM

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2021

As Iran's nuclear program makes troubling advances, US President Joe Biden is set to huddle Saturday with European allies to talk through strategy as they press for a diplomatic resolution — and to plan for the possibility Iran declines to return to the negotiating table.

The meeting with the leaders of Germany, France, and Britain — known as the E3 — comes at a pivotal time, as Iran continues to enrich uranium to near-weapons-grade levels. Biden is trying to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and bring Iran back into compliance with the pact that would have kept the Islamic republic at least one year away from the potential to field a nuclear weapon. (AP)

Leaders of the Group of 20 rich countries will step up their efforts to limit global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters.The latest draft on the need for climate action reflects tough negotiations among diplomats as the leaders gather for a two day summit in Rome, with the aim of strengthening commitments to limit carbon emissions.

"We remain committed to the (2015) Paris Agreement goal to hold the global average temperature increase well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels," the draft says.The statement also says the leaders recognised "the key relevance" of achieving net zero carbon emissions by the middle of this century, which is a goal that some of the world's largest polluters have still not committed to. (Reuters)

At a ceremony at the G20 Summit venue, frontline workers joined PM Narendra Modi and other world leaders for 'family photo'. The summit is being held at Roma Convention Center in Rome, Italy.

G20 Summit: Frontline workers join PM Narendra Modi and other world leaders for 'family photo' at Roma Convention Center in Rome, Italy pic.twitter.com/rdyB0VRo8u

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2021

Leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies (G20) will endorse an OECD deal on a global minimum corporate tax of 15%, draft conclusions of the two-day G20 summit showed on Saturday, with a view to have the rules in force in 2023. 'We call on the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting to swiftly develop the model rules and multilateral instruments as agreed in the Detailed Implementation Plan, with a view to ensure that the new rules will come into effect at global level in 2023,' the draft conclusions, seen by Reuters, said.

The conclusions are to be formally adopted on Sunday. In October, 136 countries reached a deal on a minimum tax on global corporations, including internet giants like Google , Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft or Apple to make it harder for them to avoid taxation by establishing offices in low-tax jurisdictions.'This is more than just a tax deal, it's a reshaping of the rules of the global economy,' a senior US official told reporters. (Reuters)

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi welcomed the Indian Prime Minister to Rome's Nuvola cloud-like convention center in the Fascist-era EUR neighborhood, which was sealed off from the rest of the capital. Saturday's opening session was focused on global health and the economy, with a meeting on the sidelines for key leaders to discuss next steps on Iran's nuclear program.

Rome | PM Modi arrives for G20 Summit at Roma Convention Center, received by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi pic.twitter.com/fGCscQOJuM

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached the venue where the G20 Summit is being held in Rome. He was received by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at G20 Summit venue in Rome. He is received by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi pic.twitter.com/Xlf97TgIUS

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday invited Pope Francis to visit India as he called on the head of the Catholic Church at the Vatican in their first-ever one-to-one meeting.

At the Vatican, Modi was accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. It was the first-ever one-to-one meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. Modi is also the first Indian Prime Minister Francis has met since becoming Pope in 2013.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first ever one-on-one meeting with Pope Francis as he arrived in Vatican City on Saturday. After the meeting, Modi said, “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.”

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 pic.twitter.com/QP0If1uJAC

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 30, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first ever one-on-one meeting with Pope Francis as he arrived in Vatican City and discussed with him issues covering a range of areas of interest, including COVID-19, general global perspectives and maintaining peace and tranquility.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Vatican City on Saturday and held his first ever one-on-one meeting with Pope Francis, as part of his Rome visit for the G20 Summit. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that he had a 'great interaction' with members of the Indian diaspora in Italy, including those who are studying about India and those who have developed a close bond with their home country over the years.

Furthering the community connect.

In Rome, PM @narendramodi interacted with members of the Indian community based in Italy and those who have a close association with India through spheres like academics, spirituality and more. pic.twitter.com/Lju4BakctL

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 29, 2021

Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting his holiness on a "one-to-one basis." 
   

"The Prime Minister will pay a call on His Holiness, Pope Francis at the Vatican City, and thereafter, he will attend G20 sessions, where he will also hold more bilateral meetings and we will continue to keep you informed," Shringla said.

"The Vatican has not set an agenda. I believe, tradition is not to have an agenda when you discuss issues with His Holiness. And I think we would respect that.I am sure the issues would cover a range of areas of interest in terms of the general global perspectives and issues that are important to all of us, COVID-19, health issues, how we can work together to maintain peace and tranquility and this is something that, I think would be the general trend in the discussions," the Foreign Secretary added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minister to meet Pope Francis since he became the head of the Catholic Church in 2013. The Prime Minister will also meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican City State.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Vatican City on Saturday, is accampnied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.

#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Vatican City to meet Pope Francis

He is accompanied by NSA Ajit Doval and EAM Dr S Jaishankar pic.twitter.com/JZiMbXUtLN

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2021

Before Modi, Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, I K Gujral, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee had met the then Popes in the Vatican.

When Nehru visited Pope Pius XII in July 1955, the Indian government was facing protests from the Portuguese for its attempts to annex Goa to the Union. With the Portuguese claiming that it wanted to protect the Christians in the region, the community from different parts of the world were sceptical about the Indian government’s intentions.

Indira Gandhi, who had been part of Nehru’s team during his visit, met Pope John Paul II when she was Prime Minister — in 1981. Prime Ministers I K Gujral in 1997 and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000 called on the same Pope during their respective visits to Italy.

On Saturday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls on Pope Francis, head of the sovereign of the Vatican City State, for a 30-minute meeting, he will become the fifth Indian Prime Minister to have visited the head of Roman Catholics, the largest religious denomination in the world.

Back home, Modi’s visit has been excitedly welcomed by the Catholic Church. Even before the government officially announced the visit, the president of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference, Cardinal George Alenchery, issued a statement that it would “add more energy and warmth to the relations between our country and the Vatican and the Catholic Church”.

The visit comes at a time when Christians in many parts of the country have been complaining of harassment and attacks on the community and its institutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived at Vatican city to hold a one-on-one meeting with Pope Francis, as part of his Rome visit for the G20 Summit. PM Modi is visiting the Vatican City from October 29 to 31 at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Vatican City to meet Pope Francis pic.twitter.com/rWCNxl7mVI

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2021

PM Modi was received by his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi, as he arrived at Palazzo Chigi for their first in-person meeting. Both the leaders inspected the guard of honour before proceeding for delegation level talks.

At the meeting, both the leaders reviewed the 2020-2025 Action Plan of India-Italy bilateral partnership, and reiterated the commitment to further expanding trade and investment linkages. 

PM @narendramodi & PM Mario Draghi reviewed the 2020-2025 Action Plan of ???? bilateral partnership, and reiterated the commitment to further expanding trade and investment linkages.

Also resolved to cooperate for accelerating clean energy transition to fight climate change. pic.twitter.com/Z11Sh364uF

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 29, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rome and the two leaders held extensive talks on diversifying India-Italy ties.

Prime Ministers @narendramodi and Mario Draghi meet in Rome. They two leaders held extensive talks on diversifying India-Italy ties. @Palazzo_Chigi pic.twitter.com/6tFj60VmxC

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 29, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Rome to participate in the G20 Summit, was Friday extended a warm welcome by the Indian community there.

The Indian community extends a warm welcome to PM @narendramodi in Rome. pic.twitter.com/L3RjqagBlp

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 29, 2021

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Friday congratulated India for its “excellent progress” on vaccination against COVID-19 and for resuming vaccine exports, saying there is a need to join forces to help vaccinate the world and beat the global pandemic.

The top European Union official said this after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with European Council President Charles Michel during which they discussed trade and investment ties, climate change, COVID-19, global and regional developments.

Her remarks came as India achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against COVID-19 as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 100-crore mark on October 21.

“I congratulated India for its excellent progress on vaccination and for resuming vaccines exports. We need to join forces to help vaccinate the world and beat the global pandemic,” European Commission President Leyen said on Twitter.

I congratulated India for its excellent progress on vaccination and for resuming vaccines exports.

We need to join forces to help vaccinate the world and beat the global pandemic. pic.twitter.com/cBBox42wmO

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 29, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday paid floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Rome.

The ideals of the great Bapu reverberate globally.

In Rome, PM @narendramodi paid floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi. pic.twitter.com/vDErIkc1Fj

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 29, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen here and held an extensive discussion covering trade and investment ties, climate change, Covid-19, global and regional developments.

“Official engagements in Rome begin with a productive interaction with @eucopresident Charles Michel and @vonderleyen, President of the @EU_Commission. The leaders discussed ways to enhance economic as well as people-to-people linkages aimed at creating a better planet,” Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet.

After their meeting, Ministry of external Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that they held “extensive discussion” on a number of key issues.

“Deepening ties between India and EU! PM @narendramodi met European Council President Charles Michel @eucopresident & European Commission President @vonderleyen. An extensive discussion covering trade & investment ties, climate change, COVID-19, global & regional developments,” Bagchi said on Twitter.

After the meeting, European Commission President Leyen said it was “good to meet” Prime Minister Modi. (PTI)

Official engagements in Rome begin with a productive interaction with @eucopresident Charles Michel and @vonderleyen, President of the @EU_Commission.

The leaders discussed ways to enhance economic as well as people-to-people linkages aimed at creating a better planet. pic.twitter.com/Uvk4JLN5Ca

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 29, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a joint meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen here and discussed ways to enhance economic as well as people-to-people linkages aimed at creating a better planet. This is Prime Minister Modi's first official engagement after he arrived here to participate in the G20 Summit where he will join other leaders in discussions on global economic and health recovery from COVID-19, sustainable development and climate change.
    

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have an informal meeting with Pope Francis during his Europe visit beginning Friday, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council has said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Italy to participate in the G20 Summit where he will join other leaders in discussions on global economic and health recovery from COVID-19, sustainable development and climate change.

Landed in Rome to take part in the @g20org Summit, an important forum to deliberate on key global issues. I also look forward to other programmes through this visit to Rome. pic.twitter.com/e4UuIIfl7f

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 29, 2021

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter that Modi arrived to a warm welcome. "Arrivo a Roma! PM @narendramodi arrives to a warm welcome in the Eternal City. Looking forward to extensive engagements in bilateral and multilateral formats," Bagchi said in a tweet.

Ahead of his visit to Italy and the UK to attend the G20 and COP26 meetings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said he will hold discussions on global economic and health recovery from the pandemic in Rome and highlight equitable distribution of carbon space in Glasgow.