Pope Francis meets Chancellor Angela Merkel

Pope Francis met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband this morning (Saturday) in a private audience at the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

A statement from the Holy See Press Office called their discussions “cordial” and said they spoke about “the good relations and fruitful collaboration between the Holy See and Germany.”

“They then spoke about questions of common interest, with particular consideration given to the upcoming meeting of the G20 in Hamburg, and they agreed on the need to dedicate special attention to the responsibility of the international community towards counteracting poverty and hunger, the global threat of terrorism, and climate change.”

During the course of their discussions, Pope Francis and Chancellor Merkel also recalled the “tireless efforts” of the late German Chancellor Helmut Kohl “towards the reunification of Germany and the unity of Europe”.

After meeting with Pope Francis, Chancellor Merkel met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.