Kochi: Pope Leo XIV, the spiritual head of the Catholic Church, has expressed strong interest in visiting India by late 2026 or in 2027, raising hopes of a historic papal visit that could include Kerala, the cradle of Christianity in the country.
The indication came during a meeting on December 15 with a delegation of the Syro-Malabar Church, led by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, during which the Pope conveyed his eagerness to travel to India. However, the visit will require an official invitation from the Government of India, as the Pope is also a head of state and protocol mandates a formal request from the host nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier extended invitations to Pope Francis—during the G7 Summit in Italy in June 2024 and again during a Vatican visit in 2021. With Pope Leo XIV now at the helm, a fresh invitation from the Indian government is necessary to finalise the visit.
“The Pope has clearly expressed his enthusiasm to visit India. The next step lies with the central government,” said Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany, Secretary of the Syro-Malabar Synod. “If the visit takes place, we are confident that Kerala will be included. No Pope can visit India without coming to Kerala, which holds a unique place in the history of Indian Christianity.”
Before becoming Pope, Leo XIV had visited Kerala three times, travelling to Kochi, Aluva and Varapuzha, forging a deep emotional connection with the region, the Archbishop added.
India’s association with papal visits dates back to 1964, when Pope Paul VI arrived in Mumbai. Pope John Paul II visited Kerala in February 1986, declaring Sister Alphonsa and St Kuriakose Elias Chavara as Blessed, and toured Kottayam, Ernakulam and Thrissur. He returned to India again in November 1999.
If confirmed, Pope Leo XIV’s visit would be a momentous event for India’s Christian community and a landmark occasion in the nation’s religious and diplomatic history.
