(OSV News) — Ahead of the upcoming papal trip to France, Pope Leo XIV met with Bernard Arnault, the head of Louis Vuitton and Europe’s richest man who contributed 200 million euros (over $233 million) toward the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
The pope welcomed the French entrepreneur and his family to the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo Aug. 25. The multibillionaire, who is the chairman and CEO of the Paris-based luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, posted photos of the meeting with the pope on social media on Aug. 26.
The private papal audience with the head of the fashion and luxury goods giant LVMH took place on the same day that Pope Leo was named one of the world’s best-dressed people by Vanity Fair, the second such accolade for the American-born pope, who made Vogue magazine’s list of the “55 Best Dressed People of 2025.”
On X, Arnault said he was “blessed to be received by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, ahead of his visit to France.” Pope Leo will visit Arnault’s home country Sept. 25-28, where the pope is scheduled to pray at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the first papal visit since the cathedral was damaged by a fire in April 2019.
The French luxury conglomerate LVMH, which Arnault, 77, heads, was formed nearly 40 years ago through the merger of Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennessy. Today, the group includes, among others, the fashion and perfume brands Christian Dior, Fendi, and Guerlain, as well as the champagne brand Dom Pérignon and Tiffany & Co.
A version of this story was originally published by KNA, a Catholic news agency based in Bonn, Germany.
