Odisha CM to visit Italy
Odisha CM to visit Italy
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Bhubaneswar: Naveen Patnaik, India's Chief Minister, is expected to see Pope Francis, the Pope of Rome and Head of the Catholic Church, in Vatican City later this month, according to official sources.
According to sources, the Chief Minister of Odisha has requested an audience with the sovereign of Vatican City on his travel to Rome and the United Arab Emirates in the final week of June.
If the encounter takes place, Naveen will likely become India's first provincial governor to address the Pope.
In his 22 years as Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen will make his second overseas journey. This would happen after a ten-year hiatus. His lone journey outside of India so far was in May 2012, when he toured the United Kingdom during an alleged failed coup attempt by Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra.
According to official sources, Naveen will attend investment meetings in Rome and Dubai, as well as meet with non-resident Odia (NRO) delegations. On June 28, he will be in the United Arab Emirates for an industry meet and other engagements.
Naveen's proposed meeting with the Pope could be interpreted as a ploy to boost his public image. In his 25 years in politics, his branding and projection as a political leader has been limited to the state and national levels. This could be the first time he attracts international attention with such a high-profile encounter.
