The Chancellor of Argentina, returned to the travel, the homeland of Pope Francis. On Saturday, Angela Merkel is traveling to the Vatican. A Meeting with political significance, says Christoph Strack.
For the Chancellor it is the fourth private audience, and the sixth meeting with Pope Francis in Rome. Aside from the Italian government, is this regularity. Although a private audience for heads of government is, of course, but usually only crowned heads and presidents after a few years, have a Tête also the Chance of a second Tête-à-Tête.
DW-Editor Christoph Strack
Three weeks before the G20 summit in Hamburg, Angela Merkel is travelling to as G20 Chairman to Pope Francis. The Pope from the Jesuit order and the pastors daughter from the former East Germany, have developed a good rapport with each other. You may see Merkel’s refugee policy in a critical way, but the Chancellor holds up the basic ideas of Christian charity and thus provoking some in Germany and Europe. In the fight for the continued existence of the UN climate Convention is the most prominent advocate. She is involved in this context, particularly for Africa – also in the European interest. Both Pope Francis, is perhaps not radically, but still a long way to the left.
On a line: Merkel and Pope Francis
The issue of climate protection has for the Church, the head of high importance. The subject of the environment he dedicated the Encyclical “Laudato Si”. And as in the December 2015 climate summit in Paris was still without a breakthrough on the final straight, ran the wires hot between the venue and the Vatican. And there was speculation about whether Pope Francis would personally turn it on. Merkel is trying to save now in this question of what to save. Remarkable that following the audience with Pope Francis specifically, in Rome, the Ambassador of the Holy see accredited G20 countries.
Also in the refugee policy, Merkel’s visit in Rome can be a Signal. Poland, Hungary and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, but also the United States, but your course is critical. And in Poland, and the USA, important cardinals in the issue of dealing with migrants and refugees recently went pointedly to distance from one’s own political leadership.
And then the inner, there is politics: 100 days before the election, Merkel will not damage the photos with the Pope, certainly. It was quite the Effort from the Willy-Brandt-house and the foreign office, to arrange in these weeks, for the social democratic leadership has yet to make an appointment in the Vatican. Merkel got her.