pope 5 - SP visiting pope

[Guest guest]

I did some searching in Vedabase regarding Prabhupada visiting Pope. Thats

the picture that was able to get together. Please, if anybody has any more

info, kindly share it if possible.

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--- After letter dated 3 August, 1968 to Pope, there was no reply from

Vatican and Prabhupada was dissapointed. He expressed his feelingd in one

conversation with reporter.

 

--- Later, in 1973, devotees tried to arrange meeting with between

Prabhupada and Pope. Now there was reply from Vatican:

 

Vatican City,

July 25, 1973

Bhaktivedanta Manor, England

Dear Sir,

Many thanks for your kind letter of July 16th in which you expressed the

sincere desire of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami to have an

Audience with His Holiness the Pope in Rome in September or October.

On behalf of His Eminence Cardinal Pignedoli I have the honour to reply to

your letter and to inform you that our Secretariat will present your request

for the Audience to the Vatican Secretary of State together with the

booklets on the “International Society for Krishna Consciousness” in the

hope that the reply from the Vatican Secretary of State will be favourable.

Our Secretariat will let you know at the earliest convenience about the

dates and time of the Audience.

I take this opportunity, on behalf of His Eminence Cardinal Pignedoli and on

my personal behalf, to extend our sincere best wishes and most respectful

regards to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

With best regards, I remain

Yours sincerely,

Rt. Rev. Mgr. Pietro Rossano

Secretary General.

Michael A. Grant, M.A.,

Personal Secretary to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,

Bhaktivedanta Manor

Letchmore Heath,

Herts.,

England

 

 

 

--- Then there was some exchange of letters between devotees and Prabhupada:

 

New Delhi

October 11, 1973

Yes, I may meet with the Pope when returning to USA from Africa.

 

Bombay

20 October, 1973

73-10-20

Regarding my seeing the Pope, now I am India, and then I shall go to

Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, and U.S.A. So it is not possible to go there

at this time. It can be postponed to a future date. I shall let you know.

 

New Delhi

7 November, 1973

Another thing is that now my program is fixed up for going to Nairobi on

November 23, instant, and from there I will return to Los Angeles via Rome.

I will stop there for two days for meeting with the Pope.

 

New Delhi

11 November, 1973

>From Nairobi I shall return to Los Angeles, so if you can arrange a meeting

with the Pope then I can stop off there in Rome. So please inform His

Holiness the Pope that I shall be returning to USA via Europe sometime after

December 1, so if a meeting could be arranged at that time it would be very

nice.

 

Los Angeles

5 January, 1974

As for seeing the Pope, I can see to that when I go there.

 

 

--- Then Prabhupada finally visited Rome.

 

May 24, 1974, Rome

Room Conversation

with Catholic Cardinal

and Secretary to the Pope*

 

--- After visiting, there was no pope, just Cardinal Pignedoli and Monsignor

Verrozano. Their discussion is documented in Vedabase.

 

 

 

 

--- Another idea of another meeting in 1976. But now Prabhupada noted, that

meeting with pope must be ensured, othewise there is no use.

 

New York

14 July, 1976

Concerning the proposed meeting with the Pope, I have no objection

cancelling or delaying the journey to Tehran if the meeting with the Pope is

assured. That is important. But if it is simply a courtesy visit, then what

is the use? If he is prepared to discuss seriously how religion is becoming

degraded all over the world, then it is worthwhile. Religion is now being

taken as a formality. People generally have no real conception of God. Ours

is a tangible connection with God. We know who is God and how to serve Him.

Everything is fact.

 

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Maybe somebody has some more information to make picture more complete?

 

Thank you

 

your servant Giri-nayaka das BVS