Pope Francis received President Emmanuel Macron at the Vatican for an hour on Friday. The meeting gives special reference to the preparation of France to take on the presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The French President met privately with the Pope on 26 November before heading into discussions with officials from the Vatican Secretariat of State on “France’s commitment in Lebanon, the Middle East, and Africa.”
“In the course of the talks, a number of international issues were discussed, including environmental protection in the light of the outcome of the recent COP26 [climate summit] in Glasgow. There was also an exchange of views on the prospects for the forthcoming French Presidency of the European Union,” the Holy See press office said.
While in Rome, Macron also had a meeting with a delegation from the Catholic Community of Sant’Egidio at the Palazzo Farnese on the eve of his papal audience