New Delhi: US President Joe Biden gifted memorabilia to Father Nicholas Dias after a holy communion service that was held for the former at a hotel where he was staying in New Delhi on Saturday, news agency ANI reported. Father Nicholas Dias, the secretary for the liturgy commission for the Delhi Archdiocese, met President Biden over a 30-minute holy communion service, ahead of the G20 Summit in the nation capital.
The coin gifted to the priest, with the seal of the US President engraved on it, had the number ‘261’ etched on it, denoting 260 people had possibly received the honour before Father Nicholas. “Saw both the sides and it had the number 261, from which I know only 260 people had received such an honour before me,” Father Nicholas told ANI.
Describing the US President as a very “humble person”, Father Nicholas told the news agency, “This was a great moment for me that I was chosen to pray with the (US) President, pray for him and pray for our countries too. He is a devout Catholic. He follows Pope Francis and his teachings very diligently, and tries to see how he can implement them in his official position. He came across as very humble. The President expressed his gratitude to me for the holy communion service. He gifted me memorabilia too.”
Talking to PTI, the priest said their conversation was largely around faith, Goa and India. “I mentioned to him about the origin of Christianity in India and recalled that Indian Church is as old as Christianity in the world," Father Nicholas, who hails from Goa’s Benaulim said.
"We had a quick conversation where he shared how his grandmother was a great influence in his life and in his Catholic upbringing," the priest told PTI.