PANAJI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked his meeting with Pope Francis last month and recalled the grand pontiff's appreciation of India.
"I was in Italy and Vatican City some time back. I got the opportunity to meet Pope Francis... I have invited him to India and I want to tell you what he said after my invitation. Pope Francis said, 'This is the greatest gift you have given me'. This is was his affection towards India's diversity and our vibrant democracy," the Prime Minister said.
Explaining the global relevance of India as a region which believes in service to humanity and a country which celebrates unity in diversity, Modi also made a reference to the Georgian Queen Ketevan's relics which were kept in refuge at the Old Goa church complex for centuries.
"Goa is that place which has preserved the holy relics of Georgia's Queen Ketevan for centuries. Some months back, St Queen Ketevan's relics were handed over to the Georgian government. St Queen Ketevan's sacred relics were tracked to the St Augustine Church in 2005," Modi said.
