G20 Summit: PM Modi To Meet Pope Francis After Holding Wide-Ranging Talks With Top Leaders Of EU

Modi will hold a one-on-one meeting with Pope Francis on Saturday at the Vatican City ahead of the delegation-level talks during which they are expected to discuss a range of areas of interest.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who reached Rome a day ahead of the G20 Summit met his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi during his one-on-one meeting, the two leaders had extensive talks on diversifying the bilateral ties and working together towards a more environment-friendly planet.

Prime Minister Modi was received by Draghi upon his arrival at Palazzo Chigi, the seat of the Council of Ministers and the official residence of the Prime Minister of Italy, for the meeting.

PM Modi on Friday also held wide-ranging talks with the top leaders of the European Union here during which the two sides discussed deepening the India-EU friendship, particularly in areas such as political and security relations, trade, culture and the environment.

Prime Minister Modi began his official engagements in Rome with a productive interaction with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Modi will hold a one-on-one meeting with Pope Francis on Saturday at the Vatican City ahead of the delegation-level talks during which they are expected to discuss a range of areas of interest in terms of the general global perspectives and issues such as COVID-19.

"The Prime Minister will have a separate call. He will be meeting his Holiness on a one-on-one basis. And that could, after a certain period of time, be followed up by delegation-level talks", Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told reporters here on Friday while briefing the details of the Prime Minister's engagements in Italy, PTI reported. 

Shringla said the Vatican has not set any agenda for the talks. I believe tradition is not to have an agenda when you discuss issues with His Holiness. And I think we respect that. I'm sure the issues that will be covered would cover a range of areas of interest in terms of the general global perspectives and issues that are important to all of us, he added. 

"During my visit to Italy, I will also visit the Vatican City, to call on His Holiness Pope Francis and meet Secretary of State, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin," Modi said. From Rome, Modi will travel to Glasgow, the UK, at the invitation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Modi will be visiting Rome and the Vatican City from October 29-31.