VATICAN CITY: French President Emmanuel Macron held a high-level meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Friday, with the escalating Middle East conflict dominating their discussions amid growing global concern.
The French leader, accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron, was formally received in the San Damaso courtyard before proceeding to a private audience with the pontiff. The talks also included the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, underscoring the diplomatic weight of the meeting.
According to AFP, quoting officials from the French presidency, the primary focus of the discussions was the urgent need to stabilise the Middle East, particularly in light of the ongoing Iran-related conflict and its spillover effects across the region.
Both sides expressed deep concern over the fragile ceasefire and rising tensions in Lebanon, where renewed Israeli strikes have threatened to derail recent diplomatic gains.
The Vatican, under Pope Leo XIV, has taken an increasingly vocal stance on the crisis. The pontiff—who visited Lebanon last year during his first foreign tour—has consistently called for peace and humanitarian protection, urging restraint and dialogue.
His appeals have echoed across the Catholic world, which represents over 1.4 billion faithful globally.
Macron, positioning himself as a key European advocate for diplomacy, has also repeatedly called for Lebanon to be safeguarded within any broader ceasefire arrangement.
On the eve of his Vatican visit, he engaged with members of the Sant’Egidio community, a Rome-based Catholic organisation known for its quiet but effective mediation efforts in global conflicts.
Andrea Riccardi, founder of the group, described Macron as “a man of peace” capable of supporting Lebanon at a critical moment, warning that the country must not be abandoned amid escalating regional instability.
Both Macron and Pope Leo XIV have recently voiced concerns over the conduct of the war, widely seen as involving the United States under Donald Trump. While the pope condemned attacks on civilian targets as “unacceptable,” Macron criticised the lack of coherent messaging surrounding the conflict, signalling unease among Western allies.
Despite these concerns, both leaders welcomed the current truce and emphasised the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.
The war has not only intensified humanitarian suffering but also disrupted global economic stability, adding urgency to international peace efforts.
Friday’s meeting comes just days before Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to travel to Algeria, marking the first-ever visit by a pontiff to the North African nation—another sign of the Vatican’s expanding diplomatic outreach in regions affected by conflict and historical ties to Europe.
