THE GOVERNMENT introduced a three-day state mourning as Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying tribute to Pope Francis, 88, who died on the Vatican Monday.
“Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. On this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the worldwide Catholic group. Pope Francis will all the time be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and non secular braveness by tens of millions internationally. From a younger age, he devoted himself in direction of realising the beliefs of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For individuals who have been struggling, he ignited a spirit of hope,” the Prime Minister mentioned in a put up on X.
“I fondly recall my conferences with him and was tremendously impressed by his dedication to inclusive and all-round improvement. His affection for the folks of India will all the time be cherished. Could his soul discover everlasting peace in God’s embrace,” Modi mentioned.
He shared footage of his final assembly with the Pope on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy’s Borgo Egnazia in June final 12 months.
In an announcement later within the night, the Ministry of House Affairs mentioned, “As a mark of respect, three-day state mourning might be noticed all through India, in two manners: two days’ state mourning on April 22 and 23 and in the future’s state mourning on the day of the funeral. Throughout the interval of the state mourning, the nationwide flag might be flown at half mast all through India on all buildings the place the nationwide flag is flown repeatedly and there might be no official leisure.”
Following their assembly final 12 months, Prime Minister Modi had posted on X: “Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the @G7 Summit. I love his dedication to serve folks and make our planet higher. Additionally invited him to go to India…”
This was the Prime Minister’s second assembly with the Pope.
Story continues beneath this advert
The primary was throughout a go to to the Vatican in October 2021. In line with the Ministry of Exterior Affairs, the Pope had granted PM Modi a non-public viewers on the Apostolic Palace the place the 2 mentioned points starting from the Covid-19 pandemic to local weather change. It had acknowledged that this was the primary assembly between an Indian Prime Minister and the Pope in additional than twenty years. The final such assembly was in June 2000 when the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had met Pope John Paul II on the Vatican.
In December final 12 months, an Indian delegation led by Union Minister George Kurian had known as on the Pope whereas visiting the Vatican for the ceremony to mark the elevation of Archbishop George Koovakad to the rank of Cardinal, which Modi had described as “a matter of immense pleasure” for India.
A number of leaders throughout the political divide additionally paid tribute to Pope Francis.
Chief of Opposition within the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi posted on X: “Deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a worldwide voice of compassion, justice, and peace. He stood by the downtrodden and the marginalised, spoke fearlessly towards inequality, and impressed tens of millions throughout faiths together with his message of affection and humanity. My ideas are with the Catholic group in India and all over the world.”
Story continues beneath this advert
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and several other Chief Ministers, together with Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan, Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma and Andhra Pradesh’s N Chandrababu Naidu, have been amongst those that condoled the Pope’s demise.
Expressing grief over the demise, the Catholic Bishops’ Convention of India (CBCI), the apex physique of the Catholic Church within the nation, mentioned in an announcement: “Pope Francis’s hold forth was marked by an unwavering dedication to the poor, the refugees, and the marginalised in society. He was a tireless voice for social justice, financial equality, and human dignity — championing the reason for the forgotten and bringing their plight to the world’s conscience.”
“With prophetic urgency, he urged the worldwide group to take concrete actions towards local weather change and environmental degradation, uniting folks of all faiths and ideologies within the look after creation,” it mentioned.
“A bridge-builder amongst nations and religions, Pope Francis promoted interfaith dialogue with humility and openness. His historic gestures of peace and mutual respect deepened understanding and solidarity amongst numerous non secular traditions.”
Story continues beneath this advert
The CBCI and the Chavara Cultural Centre, Delhi, organised a condolence prayer assembly within the night on the Diocesan Group Centre, Sacred Coronary heart Cathedral, New Delhi. Paying tribute to Pope Francis, Archbishop of Delhi and CBCI secretary basic Rev Anil Joseph Thomas Couto mentioned, “His humility, braveness, and unwavering stand for justice and mercy will information humanity for generations to come back.”