The long-awaited visit of Pope Francis to India is expected to take place after 2025, the year designated as the "Jubilee Year" by the Catholic Church, said Union Minister George Kurian. He said that India had already extended an official invitation to the Pope, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally inviting him during the G7 Outreach session held in Italy earlier this year.

The scheduling of the visit, Kurian noted, will depend on the convenience of Pope Francis and the Vatican's arrangements. Speaking to the media, he emphasized that the visit will be a significant event for the Christian community in India.

Kurian, the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, was part of a delegation visiting the Vatican to attend the ordination of Archbishop George Jacob Koovakad as Cardinal. The ordination ceremony, held on Saturday, elevated Koovakad, a native of Kerala, to one of the highest ranks in the Catholic Church. Koovakad has played a pivotal role in organizing the Pope’s international visits since 2020 and is among 21 clergy members being elevated to Cardinal this year.

"The Church is dedicating 2025 as the Jubilee Year of Jesus Christ’s birth," Kurian explained. "The Pope will be occupied throughout the year with related events, but as per the information received, his visit to India will likely follow soon after. We hope this historic occasion will happen at the earliest."

Kurian highlighted the importance of the Pope’s visit, noting that both Prime Minister Modi and India’s Christian community are eagerly awaiting his arrival. The visit is expected to strengthen the relationship between the Vatican and the Indian community.

Earlier this month, Goa Minister Mauvin Godinho hinted that the Pope’s visit to India could occur sooner than anticipated. However, no specific timeline has been confirmed.

Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City, holds a distinguished place in history as the first Pope from the Society of Jesus, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European Pope since the 8th century. His anticipated visit to India is expected to mark a momentous occasion for the nation’s Christian population and further enhance ties with the Vatican.