Pope Leo XIV cans play an important role as a mediator in international crises, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Monday as he visited the Vatican, reported dpa.
After his first private audience with the pontiff, Steinmeier said there are few important global figures with comparable influence on conflicting parties.
"We cannot do without the pope and the Vatican offering their help," he said.
Pope Leo, who became the spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics earlier this year, has repeatedly expressed his willingness to receive representatives from Russia and Ukraine for negotiations. He also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Steinmeier, a Protestant, said he has encouraged Leo to maintain his efforts.
"We must have no doubt at all that the pope is prepared to throw his full weight into the balance, but he shares the analysis that so far, and at the present time, there is no willingness on the Russian side to engage in dialogue," he said.
The two leaders spoke about declining levels of church-going. "This is not just a matter for the Pope and the Vatican," Steinmeier said. "We must also think about this, because my firm conviction is and remains that the churches can and must play a positive role in the cohesion of our societies."
Steinmeier also shared that he has invited Leo to visit Germany.
After the meeting in the Vatican, the German president was due to visit three UN organizations based in Rome: the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
He criticized countries' recent cuts to international aid.
"The visit to the international organizations here in Rome, especially the World Food Programme, is a sign that these international organizations deserve our support," he said.
Steinmeier recognized that Germany's economic situation has changed, with public budgets under pressure due to slowing growth and trade disputes with the United States.
"I believe we need to calm these public debates, we need rules in international trade again," he said. "And that is the perspective that can lead to states like Germany being able to mobilize more money again for international support, such as for the World Food Programme."
(By Theresa Münch and Christoph Sator)
- Pope Leo
- Crisis mediator
- German President
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
