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(OSV News) \u2014\u00a0Ahead of the upcoming papal trip to France, Pope Leo XIV met with Bernard Arnault, the head of Louis Vuitton and Europe\u2019s richest man who contributed 200 million euros (over $233 million) toward the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.<\/p>\n
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<\/a> with the pope on social media on Aug. 26.<\/p>\n Blessed to be received by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, ahead of his visit to France.<\/p>\n The Holy Father will pray at Notre-Dame de Paris, reborn from the ashes.<\/p>\n A timeless symbol of faith and French genius \u2014 built over centuries, raised again in just a few years. pic.twitter.com\/qOTnUPxEsF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bernard Arnault (@BernardArnault) August 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s best-dressed people<\/a> by Vanity Fair, the second such accolade for the American-born pope, who made Vogue magazine\u2019s list of the \u201c55 Best Dressed People of 2025<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n On X, Arnault said he was \u201cblessed to be received by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, ahead of his visit to France.\u201d Pope Leo will visit<\/a> Arnault\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The French luxury conglomerate LVMH, which Arnault, 77, heads, was formed nearly 40 years ago through the merger of Louis Vuitton and Mo\u00ebt Hennessy. Today, the group includes, among others, the fashion and perfume brands Christian Dior, Fendi, and Guerlain, as well as the champagne brand Dom P\u00e9rignon and Tiffany & Co.<\/p>\n A version of this story was originally published by KNA, a Catholic news agency based in Bonn, Germany.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t