So in the end the Pope understood that the full ceremony of a state visit allowed him to communicate directly and fully a message that otherwise would have been truncated within the confines of a cold communiqué agreed with the Italian state press office. (faith.org.uk)
According to a source, Pope Francis did not want the full ceremony to take place. (faith.org.uk)
The full ceremony is described in the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Journal, Summer 1990, pp. 32 - 33. (religion-online.org)