Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has expressed hope that when Pope Francis visits India as invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his visit itinerary includes the coastal state.
PM Modi met Pope Francis on Friday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy.
“Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji met HH Pope Francis @Pontifex on the sidelines of G7 Summit in Italy. Hon’ble PM admired his commitment to serve the people and extended an invitation to Pope to visit Bharat, and we hope the visit includes Goa,” Sawant said on X.
A few months back, Sawant had said that the state government would be inviting Pope Francis for the decennial exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa, scheduled to be held during later part of the year. Christians constitute around 27 per cent of Goa’s total population.
The decennial exposition, held at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, draws hundreds of thousands of devotees from around the world. The last exposition took place in 2014-15, and the upcoming one is scheduled from November 21, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
The coordination committee meeting, attended by priests from the Basilica and officials from the Archeological Survey of India, emphasized the need to expedite preparations for the grand event.
An Information Centre for visitors will be inaugurated in Old Goa on April 15, and adequate facilities, including accommodation, will be arranged for the expected influx of devotees.
The Goa government has allocated a budget of Rs 10 crore specifically for the exposition, with additional funds to be diverted from other departments as required.
Chief Minister Sawant assured that necessary resources will be provided to ensure a successful and memorable event.