Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh has been nominated to lead the Indian delegation to the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV, scheduled to be held on May 18 at Vatican City. Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton will accompany him as part of the delegation.
According to parliamentary sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated the two leaders to represent India at the ceremony. The delegation departed from New Delhi for Rome on Saturday.
Prime Minister Modi extended his greetings to Pope Leo XIV and expressed India’s commitment to strengthening engagement with the Holy See. In a message on X, he stated, “I convey sincere felicitations and best wishes from the people of India to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. His leadership of the Catholic Church comes at a moment of profound significance in advancing the ideals of peace, harmony, solidarity and service.”
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, was elected on May 8, becoming the first US-born Pontiff. His election has been widely welcomed, particularly among Catholics across the Americas.
In his first address to the Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV shared that he chose his papal name to honour Pope Leo XIII, who is remembered for his commitment to social justice and his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed the challenges faced by workers during the Industrial Revolution.
