On 6 April 1985, the day before Swamishri was going to meet the Pope in the Vatican, a journalist from the Reuters news agency asked him, “What will you discuss with the Pope when you meet him? Others often discuss politics.”

Swamishri replied, “We do not want to talk about politics, but about how the world can become nobler and happier, and how God can be worshipped by all.”

In 1994, when reporters in the Czech Republic asked the reason for his visit, Swamishri replied, “We have come here to honour the invitation extended by Professor Fric. We have come to pray for the success of this country and that friendship develops between everyone.”

This was not just a media-pleasing response. A few days later, Swamishri visited the historic St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral. As everyone was observing the grandeur and marvelling at its cross-vaulted ceiling, Swamishri was praying, reciting the Swaminarayan mantra and saying, “May God bless this country and its people. May their faith in God be strengthened. And may God bless the priest here.”

The sight of a Hindu sadhu praying for them seemed to slow down every European tourist that walked by.
On 4 September 1999, Swamishri uttered a similar prayer at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, “May good prevail upon those that come here.”