Saturday, July 18, 2026

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to meet Pope Francis in Rome

Prior to meeting Mr Francis, Mr Scholz plans to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on March 1.

• February 23, 2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Pope Francis
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Pope Francis

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to travel to Rome at the beginning of March to meet Pope Francis.

The head of the Catholic Church would receive the chancellor in the Vatican on March 2, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced in Berlin on Friday.

This would be Mr Scholz’s first private audience with Mr Francis.

He previously met Mr Francis at the funeral service for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in Rome in January 2023.

Prior to meeting Mr Francis, Mr Scholz plans to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on March 1.

An appointment with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is not planned.

Ms Meloni is travelling abroad at that time, said Mr Hebestreit when asked. 

(dpa/NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria

NationWide

Chartered insurance institute inaugurates Orimolade as 53rd president

The new president said his administration would build on the achievements of his predecessor, Yetunde Ilori.

Nigerian Navy

NationWide

Navy’s intelligence-driven operations boosted oil production to 1.7 million bpd: Official 

Mr Folorunsho said that one of the major operational successes recorded was the arrest of the motor tankers MKPODU, WESTAF, and STELIOS K.

Apple and Nvidia logo

World

Apple overtakes Nvidia briefly to become world’s most valuable company

Apple’s leap on Friday briefly made it the first time that the hardware and software manufacturer had the biggest capitalisation’s title for the first time since April 2025.

WHO health workers in protective gear .

Africa

DRC recorded 828 Ebola deaths, 2,124 cases: WHO

The WHO noted that the latest patient was discharged on July 16 after testing negative twice.

Icerberg lettuce and Taco Bell outlet.

World

Taco Bell’s iceberg lettuce responsible for cyclospora infections in five U.S. states: CDC

In a separate health advisory, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said cyclospora is a parasite that can only be seen under a microscope.