Both the Pope and India's Narendra Modi have turned up at the G7 meeting in Italy. The joint statement from the countries is expected to urge China to stop selling arms to Russia – but nothing about abortion.
The statement that the G7 meeting is to culminate in contains appeals to China to stop selling dual-use materials to Russia, "including weapons components and equipment", according to AFP, which has read a draft.
The document also contains promises of continued support to Ukraine "for as long as it is needed".
One thing that is not mentioned is the right to safe abortions, which the countries urged after the meeting in Japan last year, but Italy is said to have had the paragraph struck out this year.
Several world leaders
It is not just the G7 leaders who are gathering for a meeting in Fasano in Italian Apulia. As usual, the dignitaries have lined up, for talks in various constellations.
Pope Francis arrived on Friday by helicopter, to become the first Pope to visit a G7 meeting. Also present are, among others, India's Narendra Modi, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyj and Brazil's Lula da Silva.
Migration in focus
The leaders of the G7 countries were expected to focus on migration during the group's second meeting day.
The issue is high on the agenda for host nation Italy and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who wants to see investments in African countries to reduce migration pressure on Europe. The leaders are also expected to discuss efforts on global conflicts, AI, climate change and China.
The G7 is an informal forum for Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the USA. During the meeting's first day, loans of 50 billion dollars to Ukraine were presented, where income from frozen Russian assets is intended to be used as collateral.
