Union Minister George Kurien said on Saturday that Pope Francis’ much-awaited visit to India is likely to take place after 2025, which the Catholic Church has declared a “jubilee year”.
He said that India has already formally invited the Pope and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the invitation directly.
The remaining matters and procedures were to be decided by the Vatican. He told the Asianet channel that the program of the visit has been fixed according to the convenience of Pope Francis.
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Kurien was part of a delegation that reached the Vatican to attend the appointment of Archbishop George Jacob Kuvacd as a cardinal by Pope Francis in a program held on Saturday.
Koovakad (51) from Kerala has been hosting Pope Francis’ international visits since 2020 and will be one of 21 priests elevated to the rank of cardinal.
Earlier, Kouvakad, who held the title of Monsignor, was named titular Archbishop of Nisibis in Turkey.
“The Church is celebrating 2025 as the Jubilee Year of the birth of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Vatican said that the Pope will be involved (next) year, “so according to the information we have received, Pope Francis will visit India after the jubilee year. We hope that he will visit (the country) soon,” Kurian added.
The Union Minister also said that Prime Minister Modi and the Christian community are looking forward to Pope Francis’ visit to India.
Earlier this month, Goa minister Mauvin Godinho had said that Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, is likely to visit India sooner than expected.
During the outreach session of the G7 summit in Apulia, southern Italy in June this year, Prime Minister Modi had invited Pope Francis to visit India.