"Lasting effect on our country": Archbishop John Barwa on PM Modi meeting with Pope Frances in Italy

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 14 (ANI): Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and Bhubaneswar St Vincent Catholic Church, John Barwa expressed happiness after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Pope Francis at the G7 Summit in Italy, and emphasised that this will have a lasting effect on our country.
"We say that this relationship of our PM and our holy father Pope will continue and will bring us a close relationship with each other...We are extremely happy and glad that our Prime minister is meeting our holy Father Pope," Barwa said.
"This will have a lasting effect on the country and surely, we Christians will have the possibility to live in peace and harmony in the country and we assure that we will also work for peace and justice and happiness in the country," he told ANI.
PM Modi met Pope Francis upon reaching the Summit after he was welcomed by Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni as India participated as an 'Outreach Nation' in the G7 Summit.
Visuals from the session showed PM Modi sharing a hug with Pope Francis.
PM Modi arrived in Italy's Apulia on Thursday late night to attend the G7 Outreach Summit.
On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, PM Modi met President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.
The summit is taking place at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in Italy's Apulia region from June 13-15. PM Modi is attending the summit at the invitation of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.
This marks PM Modi's first trip abroad after assuming office for the third consecutive term.
The Prime Minister said, during the discussions at the Outreach session, that the focus would be on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean. He said it will be an opportunity to bring greater synergy between the outcomes of the G20 Summit held under India's presidency and the forthcoming G7 Summit and deliberate on issues that are crucial for the Global South.
The G7 summit is taking place at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in Italy's Apulia region from June 13-15. PM Modi is attending the summit at the invitation of Italian PM Meloni. (ANI)