The Holy See Press Office called their discussions "cordial" and said they spoke about "the good relations and fruitful collaboration between the Holy See and Germany".

They also discussed climate change and ways the world can work multilaterally to combat poverty, hunger and terrorism, in advance of the next G20 summit, Merkel said.

The summit will be held in Hamburg, Germany on 7-8 July.

Merkel said the pope encouraged her to work to preserve the Paris climate accord, despite her disappointment about US President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the agreement.

She also said she and Francis agree they'd love to see the world tear down walls and fight for international treaties, with a special emphasis on the plight in Africa.

During the course of their discussions, Francis and Merkel also spoke of Chancellor Helmut Kohl who died on Friday.

He told her he sent a telegram to the Kohl family saying:

"I would like to express my condolences to your family members and to you and to all the German people who empathize with the ‘Chancellor of the Unity,'" he said.

"Chancellor Kohl, who is a great and trusted European man, has worked with foresight and dedication for the good of people in Germany and in the neighboring European countries."

Written in German, the telegram also stated the Pope's wish that the "Merciful God" will reward him "for his tireless efforts in favor of unity of Germany and the union of Europe, as well as for his commitment to peace and reconciliation."

Later Merkel and Francis exchanged gifts. She gave Francis some of his favourite sweets and CDs of Beethoven's works.

Merkel received German language editions of "The Joy of the Gospel," "The Joy of Love" and Francis's encyclical "Laudato Si': on the care of our common home."

Source

• America
• Catholic News Agency
• Vatican Radio
• Independent
• Daily Mail
• Image: suddeutsche.de

The 3-year-old boy, named Aylan, along with his 5-year-old brother, Galip, and their mother, Rehan, drowned after the raft carrying them capsized near the Turkish coast.

Millions of refugees are scrambling to escape from the life-threatening civil wars plaguing several countries from Nigeria to Pakistan.

According to the British newspaper The Independent, half of Syria's population - approximately 11 million people - have been forced to flee; with four million living as refugees in foreign nations. And approximately 2.6 million Iraqis have been displaced, both due to civil wars and the barbarism of the Islamic State.

Matt Wilch, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) refugee policy advisor for Migration and Refugee Service, told me that of the four million Syrian refugees, 1.8 million are being hosted by Turkey, Jordan has 1 million, Egypt has 200,000, tiny Lebanon is hosting over 1 million, and ironically even war-torn Iraq has opened its doors to 200,000 Syrians.

But according to U.S. State Department figures, since March of 2011 - when the Syrian conflict started - only 1,554 Syrians have been admitted through the U.S. refugee resettlement program. This is shameful.

Wealthy Europe, the U.S. and other western countries have a moral obligation to offer far more help.

Germany is providing an excellent example here. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that any Syrian arriving in Germany would be granted asylum.

With 800,000 refugees expected to arrive in Germany before year's end, Merkel has been urging Germans to rise to the challenge. She said, "There can be no tolerance of those who question the dignity of other people."

Wilch said if the U.S. and other wealthy nations would provide much more aid to Syria's neighboring nations, not only would refugees be able to benefit from improved services, but most would not feel compelled to take the long dangerous journey to Europe.

Wilch said only 37 percent of the needs of refugees are being funded in these neighboring host countries.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, approximately 2,500 people have perished en route to Europe since the beginning of this year alone.

In New Zealand, in a letter to Prime Minister John Key, Archbishops Philip Richardson and Brown Turei (Anglican) and John Cardinal Dew (Catholic) say the refugee crises in the Middle East and Africa require "a global response."

"Our country needs to play its part and to respond with the compassion and the hospitality for which we are renowned," the church leaders write.

"We have done so in the past, we continue to support newcomers and we commit ourselves and our resources into the future to this task."

To go the extra mile, individuals may consider making a donation to Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand to support its work in the Middle East.

Pope Francis has strong words for those who would turn away refugees: It is "violence to erect walls and barriers to block those seeking a place of peace. It is violence to push back those fleeing from inhuman conditions in the hope of a better future."

• Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, a Protestant, said that the 85-year-old pope's decision that he was no longer fit enough to continue in the job "earns my very highest respect."

"In our time of ever-lengthening life, many people will be able to understand how the pope as well has to deal with the burdens of aging," she told reporters in Berlin. Continue reading