Ahead of the upcoming apostolic journey to France, Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with French billionaire Bernard Arnault, the head of luxury conglomerate LVMH and Europe’s richest man. The Pope welcomed Arnault and his family to the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo on August 25, 2026. Arnault, whose family donated €200 million (over $233 million) toward the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral following the devastating 2019 fire, later shared photos of the meeting on social media, expressing that he felt “blessed to be received by His Holiness.”
The encounter comes as final preparations are underway for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France from September 25–28, where he is scheduled to pray at the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The visit marks the first papal tour to the iconic cathedral since it was severely damaged seven years ago. Adding a lighthearted note to the day, the private meeting coincided with Pope Leo being named one of Vanity Fair’s best-dressed people—his second fashion accolade following his inclusion in Vogue’s list of best-dressed individuals in 2025.
Arnault, 77, leads LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), a global luxury titan formed nearly four decades ago. The Paris-based conglomerate encompasses dozens of iconic fashion, perfume, and jewelry houses, including Christian Dior, Fendi, Guerlain, Tiffany & Co., and Dom Pérignon.