Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has travelled to Italy for his inaugural visit. In Rome, he met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for talks and took part in the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in St Peter's Square. The stages of the journey in pictures.
Rome, 17 May 2025: Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is greeted with military honours at Palazzo Chigi, the official residence of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
For Merz, Italy is an "indispensable strategic partner" that Germany would like to work even more closely with in future to boost the competitiveness of companies.
The intensive efforts to end the war in Ukraine are also to continue. "We must not allow ourselves to be divided in the European Union," emphasised Merz.
There was also consensus on the subject of migration: "We will no longer hit the brakes when it comes to solving the problems in the European Union. Above all, we want to implement new, restrictive European asylum rules quickly," said Merz in the joint statement to the press.
Rome, 18 May 2025: The following morning, Federal Chancellor Merz met with Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney. Both heads of government intend to attend the ceremonial inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.
Vatican, 18 May 2025: The inauguration mass in St Peter's Square is traditionally attended by believers from around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people want to participate in person in this important event.
The Federal Chancellor was accompanied by high-ranking church representatives as well as women and men from the religious sector who are committed to helping others in special ways – for example through charitable work, supporting refugees or disaster control.
At the mass, 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost receives the papal insignia. As Leo XIV, he is the successor to Pope Francis, who died on 21 April 2025 at the age of 88.
For Federal Chancellor Merz, witnessing the inauguration was "an uplifting moment". The Chancellor wishes the new Pope a steady and fortunate hand in what he will do for this great church in the coming years.