Pope Leo XIV meets LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault

Pope Leo XIV met with LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, on August 25. Arnault, Europe’s wealthiest individual, previously donated 200 million euros (over $233 million) toward the reconstruction of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The meeting took place ahead of the Pope’s scheduled visit to France from September 25 to 28. During that trip, Pope Leo XIV is expected to pray at Notre Dame, marking the first papal visit to the cathedral since the 2019 fire. Arnault expressed gratitude on social media for the audience with the Pope.