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2mo ago

Macron Meets Pope Léon XIV at the Vatican, With Lebanon and a Middle East Truce in Focus

The meeting signaled a push to work with the Holy See on easing the Middle East crisis, with Lebanon in focus.

Le président français Emmanuel Macron et le pape Léon XIV lors de leur audience privée au Vatican, le 10 avril 2026.
Le pape Léon XIV lors de la messe de Pâques, sur la place Saint-Pierre., au Vatican, le 5 avril 2026.
Emmanuel Macron avait offert au pape François la première édition française de Vers la paix perpétuelle d’Emmanuel Kant en octobre 2022, un cadeau qui avait fait polémique en Pologne.
Avant sa venue au Vatican vendredi 10 avril 2026, le président français Emmanuel Macron avait déjà fait le déplacement, comme ici le 26 juin 2018, auprès du pape François.

Overview

  • Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron were received Friday at the Apostolic Palace for a first face‑to‑face with Pope Léon XIV, holding a private talk of about an hour before a working lunch with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
  • France said the talks centered on ending the war in the Middle East, and both sides highlighted special concern for Lebanon after deadly Israeli strikes and efforts to fold the Lebanese front into a two‑week truce announced Tuesday night.
  • Macron formally invited the Chicago‑born pope to visit France, and reporters at the Vatican said a response could be made public later Friday.
  • The encounter paired diplomacy with sensitive domestic issues as Macron’s delegation included Jean‑Marc Sauvé, who led France’s Church abuse inquiry, while end‑of‑life legislation in Paris remained a likely point of disagreement.
  • Symbolic gestures framed the outreach as Macron gave a signed France basketball jersey and books, met the Sant’Egidio community Thursday, and, according to Algerian press cited in French media, could relay a plea on jailed journalist Christophe Gleizes before the pope’s Algeria trip.