Mon Apr 21 09:50:58 UTC 2025: **Pope Francis Dies, Long-Awaited India Visit Unfulfilled**
New Delhi, April 21, 2025 – The death of Pope Francis on April 21st has dashed hopes for a long-awaited papal visit to India. While India boasts a larger Catholic population than several other countries combined, no Pope had visited since 1999. Despite invitations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021 and again in 2024, and statements from Union Minister George Kurian suggesting a post-2025 visit, the trip never materialized due to the Pope’s declining health. The Pope’s passing marks a significant missed opportunity for India’s Catholic community, who had been anticipating the visit, particularly given the upcoming Jubilee Year. Previous papal visits to India include those by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and Pope John Paul II in 1986 and 1999.
First Piper 