Federal President Steinmeier in Italy: "I would also travel with a fully integral helmet"

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Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa

Sergio Matarella and Frank-Walter Steinmeier speak a few friendly sentences into the cameras, then the two retire for lunch.

Italy's President puts on his mask, his counterpart from Germany looks up.

Oh, right, the mask.

It's all a little different now.

The Federal President has traveled to Milan.

Italy, especially the north, was badly hit by the corona pandemic, and Steinmeier would like to send a sign of solidarity, compassion, and recognition.

We'll get through this disease together, that's his message.

Europe stands together, at least on this issue.

In the meantime the situation in Italy has stabilized, but Steinmeier's trip also takes place under special conditions.

The hygiene rules are strict, intervals are meticulously observed, appointments are held in as small a group as possible.

And: Wherever he goes, Steinmeier has to wear a mask.

Be it at the appearance with President Matarella, be it in conversation with doctors and patients from Lombardy, be it on Thursday evening at the concert at La Scala in Milan.

Mouth and nose protection wherever you looked.

That was sometimes depressing.

But Steinmeier was greeted in a noticeably friendly manner at La Scala.

When he entered the box of honor, the audience stood up and applauded the German guest for a long time.

That would, let's say, not happen to him in the Berlin Volksbühne anytime soon.

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Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender at the Royal Palace

Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa

Steinmeier believes the restrictions are bearable.

He is happy to be able to travel again at all.

He is traveling abroad for the first time in months.

In general, everyday political life changed enormously for him as a result of Corona.

The Federal President had hardly any appearances, few encounters or events at Bellevue Palace - so he had to do without pretty much everything that defines his office.

Now he is hoping for a bit of normalcy.

Steinmeier would be happy to plan his next visits abroad soon - if necessary with even stricter measures.

"I would also travel with a fully integral helmet when traveling with it becomes possible again," he says.

Steinmeier is satisfied with his visit to Italy.

It is important to set an example in these times.

In fact, the German-Italian relationship has not always been stable lately, to say the least.

Italy can still remember the early days of the pandemic, when the federal government decided to ban the export of medical equipment despite the emergency in Lombardy and other Italian regions.

That was pretty much the opposite of European solidarity.

But it is also well remembered that Germany flew around 40 patients, many of whom were saved.

One of them is Felice Perani.

He tells Steinmeier about his struggle for survival in a Leipzig hospital.

He was flown out in a coma and woke up in a completely strange environment.

He struggled with death for 15 days.

He is now well again.

"It is thanks to Germany that I am still alive today," says Felice Perani.

Then his voice breaks.

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