Poverty, Ukraine, among topics of meeting between Pope, Merkel

Pope Francis received Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany in audience on February 21 and discussed “poverty and hunger, the exploitation of human beings and the rights of women, and the challenges of promoting world health and the protection of creation,” according to the Holy See Press Office.

They also discussed human rights, religious freedom, and “the commitment to reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine.”

Following the audience, Merkel met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the new Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.