The event becomes particularly ticklish as it is the only programme which is not part of the Pope's itinerary that is either religious or state specific. It is the Pope's meeting with representatives of various religious heads where Vice-President Krishna Kant was invited as official representative. It is learnt the invitation was sent by Archbishop of Delhi, Fr Alan DeLatic, as early as September 7, but there has been no acknowledgement of receipt of the invitation nor a confirmation or refusal of acceptance. The religious heads include the Dalai Lama, one of the four Shankaracharyas, the Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, Acharya Mahapragya of the Jain sect, a prominent jathedar, representatives ofthe Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj etc, among others.

The Pope sent a special message requesting a meeting with religious heads was swiftly accepted by the Church and the programme was fixed for November 7, at Vigyan Bhavan.

It was to be the last meeting on the second day of the three-day tour of the Pope which included a holy mass for the special assembly of Asian Synod bishops at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on that day. While the Government has had no hesitation in ensuring that every state ceremony (he is, after all, head of state of the Vatican) like the ``welcome ceremony'' at Rashtrapati Bhavan and a meeting with President K R Narayan, his meeting at Hyderabad House where the Vice-President and Prime Minister would call on him, even a visit to Rajghat, went without a hitch, there has been unusual silence on the Vice-President's acceptance for the meeting with religious heads.

The press secretary to the vice-president, Ajay Mandala, confirms that there has been no decision on the request at the momentand the request is still pending.``Also, we will be guided by the MEA which advises on all invitations by foreign dignitaries.''

Sources close to the Church believe the presence of Vice-President Krishna Kant as a government representative at a non-state event would be seen as a snub to the Sangh Parivar, which has been conducting a vitriolic campaign against the papal visit.

Surprisingly, the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre has not made any statement condemning the protests. The last thing the Parivar would like to witness is an official of such high office sharing the dais with the Pope. The message, naturally, would be one of peace and harmony with all religions. This would be quite contrary to the RSS-VHP campaign against Christianity.