Olaf Scholz
Pope receives him for a private audience
Pope Francis and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz met.
© imago/ABACAPRESS
Olaf Scholz met Pope Francis. The head of the church received the Chancellor for a private audience in the Vatican.
Pope Francis (87) welcomed Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (65) to the Vatican on Saturday (March 2nd). The head of the church received Scholz for a private audience. On X (formerly Twitter) it says to several pictures from the meeting between the two: “An important conversation in difficult times: Pope Francis and I talked about the great challenges – the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and how we can ensure peace and security in the world. Thank you for the audience!”
First private audience for Chancellor Scholz
Pope Francis and Olaf Scholz both attended the funeral of Benedict XVI. (1927-2022) in early 2023. As “Vatican News” reports, the meeting was her first private audience. Chancellor Scholz presented the Pope with the official football of the upcoming European Championship taking place in Germany, as well as a white porcelain bear, the report added. There was also apparently a gift for Scholz: The Pope gave the politician a bronze work of art. It shows a child helping another child stand up.
Pope was briefly in the hospital at the end of February
A few days before the private audience with the German Chancellor, there were renewed concerns about the Pope. According to media reports, he was examined in a hospital because of a cold, but was able to leave shortly afterwards.