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BAPS Delegation Participates in Vatican Interfaith Conference and Meets Pope Leo XIV, Rome, Italy

23 Jun 2026 to 24 Jun 2026

Interfaith Conference in Rome

The Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, also known as the Angelicum, was the venue of the two-day interfaith conference in Rome, Italy

His Eminence Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, the head of the Catholic Church's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, recognised the BAPS swamis and greeted them before the inaugural session of the conference

The Rector Magnificus of the Angelicum, Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P., was also pleased to see Paramtattvadas Swami again and welcomed him to the conference

Fr. Martin Ganeri, O.P., Director of the Institute for Interreligious Relations, welcomed Paramtattvadas Swami to the Angelicum again

In the inaugural session, Paramtattvadas Swami was invited to honour Cardinal Koovakad with a traditional shawl

In his keynote address, Cardinal Koovakad reiterated the value and need for genuine dialogue, fraternity and collaboration amongst faith communities in the world today

Delegates included religious leaders, scholars, academics, and representatives of dharmic faith communities from across Europe

The conference was held in the Aula Minor of the university building

Fr. Thomas White, the Rector of the Angelicum, welcomed all the delegates

BAPS delegates – (l to r) Deepan Lakhani, Kirit Wadia, Neetal Parekh, Kailash Parekh MBE JP, and Ambrish Limbachia – with His Eminence Cardinal Koovakad

Paramtattvadas Swami discussing with Dr Mehool Sanghrajka MBE, Director of the Institute of Jainology

Paramtattvadas Swami engaging with Professor Anand Mishra of Heidelberg University while Gnankushaldas Swami is speaking with Shandip Shah, former trustee of the Jain Oshwal Association of the UK

Paramtattvadas Swami meeting with Prof. Lucio Sembrano of Sorrento, Italy

Gnankushaldas Swami speaking with Fr. Joshua

Paramtattvadas Swami with Fr. Ben Bose Chellappan of the Pontifical Gregorian University, who delivered the concluding address at the conference

BAPS delegates engaging with Bishop Herman Willebrordus Woorts, Bishop of Utrecht, Netherlands

Bishop Woorts with BAPS delegates Kailesh Parekh MBE JP and Ambrish Limbachia

BAPS swamis speaking with Ranjit G. Singh, Director of Public Affairs for the Representative Council of Sikhs of France

Paramtattvadas Swami with Dr Harjinder Lallie, Director of WMG’s Cyber Security Centre at the University of Warwick, UK

Acharya Vidyabhaskar, Secretary General of the Swiss Association for Hinduism, speaking with Paramtattvadas Swami

Paramtattvadas Swami sharing a light moment with James Holland, Director of Interfaith at the Diocese of Westminster, UK

Paramtattvadas Swami with Swami Rameshwarananda Giri, Director of the Vedantic Centre of Spain

Delegates of the conference

BAPS delegates with HE Cardinal Koovakad and other respected Hindu leaders – Swami Bhairavananda Saraswati, Executive Director of Sanatan Dharma Europe; Ragasudha Vinjamori, Founder of Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence; and Swami Rameshwarananda Giri, Vedantic Centre of Spain

Delegates of the conference in the Angelicum courtyard

On Wednesday 24 June, the delegates joined thousands of others outside the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV addressed the gathering of faithful from around the world

Catholic leaders from around the world had also come to meet the Pope, bearing various gifts from their respective dioceses

BAPS swamis briefly met HH Pope Leo XIV to introduce the Holy Father to HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj and HH Mahant Swami Maharaj

Pope Leo XIV was shown a photo of Pramukh Swami Maharaj meeting Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1984

The Pope was also shown a photo of the current BAPS guru, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj

BAPS swamis and delegates offered His Holiness Pope Leo XIV two gifts from His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, and conveyed his prayers for peace and harmony in the world