JP Khan, family calls on Pope to visit TT

Making this observation to His Holiness, leader of the Roman Catholic Church, in the Vatican, Rome last week, was veteran Justice of the Peace (JP) Akbar Khan and his daughter, Jennifer, who both extended an invitation to the Pope to pay an official visit to Trinidad and Tobago.

Speaking to Sunday Newsday from Rome yesterday, Jennifer, a businesswoman, said when she shook Pope Francis’ hands she told him, “Your Highness, I am from Trinidad and Tobago and our Prime Minister is a young man who needs help with the youths. A visit by you to our country would be a blessing.

Please visit us.” Khan, his family and Inter-religious Organisation (IRO) president Harrypersad Maharaj paid a three-day official visit to the Vatican last week where they met with Pope Francis.

Khan took along his wife Cecile, daughters Jennifer, Ruth, and his grandson, Jordhan.

Khan said the meeting took place before a crowd of 3,000 people in St Peter’s Square, and, when he greeted the Pope with a handshake, he, like his daughter, extended an invitation to His Holiness to visit Trinidad and Tobago.

“I told the Pope that our country elected a new prime minister who is faced with a multiplicity of problems, especially among the young population.

I invited the Pope to visit our country and I told him that he would be very much welcomed.

I told him to pray for our country.” Khan, 84, has been a JP in Trinidad for the past 55 years and as a mark of honour for community service, the office of the Pontiff presented him with a certificate and a medal bestowing on him the title of professor. His wife, daughters and grandson were presented with tokens.

Harrypersad said after meeting the Pope, he shared with His Holiness the work of the IRO in this country.

The IRO president told Sunday Newsday he also spoke to the Pope about his attendance at a conference in Berlin, Germany, on combating anti-Semitism.

That conference, he said, was attended by ministers of government from over 40 countries including members of the House of Lords in England and the attorney general of Canada. Harrypersad said he was impressed by the invitation that was extended to the Pope to visit this country.