German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was welcomed into the Apostolic Palace for his first private meeting with Pope Francis, although the two met briefly last year during the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI.
The Vatican reported that the two discussed the importance of the Christian faith in Germany, as well as migration and global peace.
The two exchanged gifts, which included a soccer ball from the German Chancellor.
And at the end of the meeting, the Pope spoke in German to make his customary request.
Pray for me.
The Pope's meeting with the Chancellor comes amid tension between the Vatican and the Church in Germany. Just two weeks before, the German Bishops' Conference issued a statement saying they have accepted a warning from Rome and will no longer vote on the statues of the synodal committee.
AT
