Mata Amritanandamayi Devi to meet Pope Francis next month

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indian spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi will be meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican next month.

A spokesperson at the Mata Amritanandamayi Math confirmed that the supreme head of the Catholic Church has invited Amritanandamayi, known popularly as the 'Amma', or 'mother', to Rome this December.

"The details of attendees and the topic for the closed discussion will be announced at a later date," the spokesperson said from Amritapuri at Vallikavu near Kollam in Kerala.

The Mata said that the invitation was a great honour. "Opportunities for religious leaders to come together can help spread the fragrance of peace and harmony throughout the world and can generate solutions to global problems," she said.

The Mata, also known as 'the hugging saint', has a large following the world over cutting across religious barriers. She is also a humanitarian icon, having initiated several charitable programmes to help the poor and needy within and outside India.