Vatican - Meeting between Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Msgr Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See

Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had a meeting in Paris on 10 July with Msgr Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See.

During the meeting the Minister presented him, on President Macron’s behalf, with the insignia of Commandeur in the Légion d’Honneur, signalling the French Republic’s recognition of his commitment to peace, respect for international law and multilateralism, and to relations between France and the Apostolic See.

The Minister and his counterpart welcomed the excellent relationship between France and the Holy See, marked by President Macron’s visit to Vatican City on 10 April 2026 and Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral visit to France scheduled for 25 to 28 September 2026.

The Minister and Msgr Gallagher talked about the main international issues, in particular the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East and the Sahel. The Minister reiterated France’s historical commitment to the protection of the rights, schools and heritage of Eastern Christians, and its steadfast efforts to ensure the region finds stability, peace and security. He signalled the importance of the Holy See diplomatic corps’ commitment to inter-community dialogue, which is necessary for preventing conflicts and promoting sustainable peace processes.

The meeting also focused on issues related to artificial intelligence and digital regulation, to which France and the Holy See attach major importance.