Sushma Swaraj calls on Pope Francis at Vatican

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 06, 2016: External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sept 5, Monday called on Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Sushma Swaraj visited Rome to attend the canonisation of Mother Teresa at the Vatican; she also met with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Sunday.

“The two ministers expressed their satisfaction on the first high-level bilateral meeting after a considerable period,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.  “They reviewed the state of bilateral relations and discussed the future road map of cooperation in trade and investment, science and technology, counter terrorism, cultural exchange and other areas of mutual interest,” it said.

Sushma Swaraj also conveyed her deep condolences for the earthquake in Central Italy last month that caused a lot of destruction and claimed many lives, Financial Express reported.  Sushma Swaraj later left Rome for New Delhi.  “Grazie Roma! EAM @SushmaSwaraj departs for Delhi after a fruitful visit to Italy,” Swarup said in another tweet.

 

India-Italy relations have been frosty for the past four years after two Italian marines aboard a cargo vessel allegedly shot two fishermen dead off the Kerala coast mistaking them for pirates. Both marines have since received conditional permission from the Supreme Court, which directed they would have to return if summoned.

MEA Swaraj addresses Indian diaspora in Rome  :  India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is leading a 12-member delegation to the canonization ceremony of Mother Teresa in Rome, has met Indian diaspora and talked about various government welfare efforts for community members abroad.

Swaraj met the Indian diaspora on September 3 at a reception hosted by India’s Ambassador to Italy Anil Wadhwa.

The External Affairs Minister mentioned about assisting Indians in distress and the evacuations the government has conducted, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

@MEAIndia “EAM thanks Indian diaspora for coming, not just from Rome but from Naples, Florence, Milan – speaks of the renewed engagement with diaspora

“I have come here with a delegation from different parts of India, with those of different faiths to pay respects to life of Mother Teresa,” Swaraj said at the reception. “For the Indian principle is based on the saying: ekam sat, vipra bahuda vadanthi – the truth is one, the wise call it as many,” she added.

She thanked Indian diaspora for coming, not just from Rome but from Naples, Florence, Milan. Apart from the federal government delegation, two state government-level delegations from Delhi and West Bengal led by Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee respectively were also in Rome to attend the ceremony that will take place tomorrow.

Swaraj’s delegation comprises of Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Lok Sabha members Prof K V Thomas, Jose K Mani, Anto Anthony and Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Francis D’Souza.

Others include Judge of Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph, eminent lawyer Harish Salve, Secretary General of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and K J Alphonse. Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sujata Mehta is also part of the delegation.

In March, Pope Francis had announced that Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity, will be elevated to sainthood after the Church recognized two miracles attributed to her after her death in 1997.