Scholz uses traditional 'telegram' to send condolences to the Vatican

World leaders sent condolences to the Vatican following the death of Pope Francis, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who expressed his sympathies in a formal message commonly referred to as a telegram.

A government spokesperson clarified the message followed a longstanding diplomatic tradition where Germany sends official condolences or congratulations via "telegram."

The spokesperson clarified that while the terminology harked back to a different era, such messages were now typically sent via email through the Foreign Office and relevant embassies, with a printed copy usually following by post.

Scholz also paid public tribute to Pope Francis on the social media platform X, separate from the formal diplomatic communication.

Telegram services still operate in parts of the world, although the number of telegrams sent each year has declined rapidly since the 1980s.

The German postal service stopped offering telegram services in 2022, bringing an end to what was once the world's fastest form of communication for urgent political and military messages.