Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has nominated two ministers to represent Pakistan at the oath-taking ceremony of Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City, scheduled for tomorrow. The appointed delegates are Kheal Das Kohistani, Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, and Ramesh Singh Arora, Punjab’s Minister for Minority Affairs. Their participation underscores Pakistan’s commitment to interfaith harmony and diplomatic engagement with the global Catholic community.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected earlier this month, becoming the first American to lead the Catholic Church. In his inaugural Sunday address, he welcomed the recent ceasefire between Pakistan and India, expressing hope for lasting peace between the two nations. He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, urging humanitarian aid and the release of hostages, echoing the peace advocacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis.