Lead
Vatican City — French President Emmanuel Macron met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Friday for their first official talks since the pope's election, with the war in the Middle East and the humanitarian situation in Lebanon expected to dominate the agenda.
Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, attended a private meeting with the American-born pope at the Apostolic Palace. The meeting lasted around an hour, according to reports. The two leaders have not met in person before, though they spoke by phone shortly after the then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected to the papacy in May.
Coverage Comparison
The meeting had been highly anticipated, coming after the French president arrived in Rome on Thursday evening. France 24 reported that Macron's trip was his first official visit since Leo XIV became pope. The visit is considered significant as it pairs the leader of a nation with a historically strong Catholic identity against the backdrop of multiple international crises.
RFI described the talks as covering a broad range of topics, with the Middle East expected to be a priority. The timing of the visit comes as both leaders have publicly voiced concern over the conflict, particularly the situation in Lebanon, which was hit by deadly strikes this week despite a broader lull in fighting elsewhere in the region.
Key Claims
Situation in Lebanon: Both France and the Vatican have shown particular concern over Lebanon. Leo XIV visited the country last autumn on his first trip abroad as pope, a signal of its importance to the Holy See. Macron has repeatedly called for Lebanon to be included in a two-week ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran earlier this week.
On Thursday evening, Macron met with members of the Sant'Egidio community, a Catholic charity and peace organization that acts as a diplomatic channel for the Holy See. The group's founder, Andrea Riccardi, characterized Macron as "a man of peace" who could support Lebanese authorities.
Macron's Diplomatic Position: The French president's office stated that the talks were an opportunity to reiterate a shared commitment to "peace, dialogue and solidarity among peoples." The Elysée emphasized that the focus of the visit was on the Vatican, and Macron had no plans to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during this trip.
Southern France's media: While some outlets speculated that Macron might raise the issue of detained French journalist Christophe Gleizes, this claim has not been independently verified and was not mentioned in all coverage of the meeting.
Perspectives
The Middle East was not the only topic on the agenda. France 24 reported that the two leaders addressed the situation of Christians in the region, a traditional concern of the Vatican. The visit also comes amid a domestic political push by Macron's government on an "end of life" bill. The Vatican views euthanasia as a "crime against humanity" and assisted dying as a "grave sin."
Catholic commentators have speculated that the pope might raise this issue. The two leaders also discussed international affairs, the regulation of artificial intelligence, climate change, and humanitarian issues, according to the Elysée.
At the end of the meeting, Macron presented the pope with several gifts, including a signed jersey from France's basketball team, a reproduction of a 17th-century map, a collection of writings by Georges Bernanos, and a book on the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Details of the private talks have not been released.