With the sad news of Pope Francis’s passing, it’s a good time to reflect on how his life and leadership quietly influenced India’s global image too. While he wasn’t a political leader, Pope Francis had a powerful voice that mattered worldwide. And India’s connection with him—even though limited—had an interesting impact, especially when it comes to soft power.
1. A Powerful Symbol of Unity
Pope Francis stood for peace, kindness, and bringing people of different faiths together. When Prime Minister Modi met him in 2021 and again in 2024, it wasn’t just a photo-op. It sent a quiet message: that India values dialogue, diversity, and respect for all religions.
At a time when India often faces tough questions about how it treats minorities, this meeting helped balance the picture a bit. It reminded the world that India is also a land of many faiths and has room for respectful conversations—even with people outside the mainstream political world.
2. Reaching a Global Audience
There are more than 1.3 billion Catholics in the world—nearly as many as India’s entire population. So even though only a small number of Indians are Catholic, the Vatican matters a lot internationally.
By connecting with Pope Francis, India reached out—symbolically—to Catholic-majority countries in places like Latin America, parts of Africa, and Southeast Asia. These are regions where India wants to build stronger ties in trade, development, and technology. So this connection wasn’t just about faith—it was smart diplomacy.
3. Shared Values on Climate and Compassion
One of Pope Francis’s strongest messages was about protecting the Earth and helping the poor. His famous letter Laudato Si’ talked about how we need to care for nature and think beyond just profit and growth.
That’s a message India could easily relate to. From ancient times, Indian culture has spoken about living in harmony with nature. So even though India and the Vatican are very different, this common ground gave them a way to connect—without politics getting in the way.
4. Gentle Diplomacy with Big Impact
Meeting the Pope is never seen as controversial. It’s respectful, peaceful, and often full of warmth. That’s what makes it great for soft power—India got to show its global side, its spiritual side, and its respectful side, all in one go.
It also allowed India to be seen with a man the world admired deeply, especially in Europe, Latin America, and even parts of the US.
In a Nutshell
Pope Francis may no longer be with us, but the quiet impact he had on India’s global story is still there. His meetings with Indian leaders helped India look more open, respectful, and connected to the world’s values. And in today’s world, where how you’re seen matters just as much as what you do—that’s a pretty big deal.
