Vatican: Pope blesses PM Modi on 75th birthday; prays for his long life and good health

NEW DELHI: Pope Leo XIV blessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday during a Papal Audience at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Wednesday. The Pope prayed for Modi’s good health and long life as around 30,000 people gathered for the weekly event.The Papal Audience is a special gathering where the Pope delivers teachings and blessings to visitors and pilgrims. During the ceremony, the Pope met a delegation from the Indian Minorities Federation (IMF).The IMF delegation was led by MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, former diplomat and MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and convener Prof Himani Sood. They carried a portrait of Prime Minister Modi, which Pope Leo XIV blessed during the meeting.Sandhu also presented the Pope with a book titled Heart to Heart: Reverence of Saga. The book highlights PM Modi’s special relationship with the Sikh community.