French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, recently met with Pope Leo XIV in a highly publicized visit to the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. Emmanuel shared photos from the meeting on his Instagram account, offering a rare glimpse into the intimate encounter. “Very pleased to meet His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. We share the same belief: in the face of division in the world, working for peace is both a duty and an imperative,” Macron wrote alongside the photos, reinforcing the themes of unity and global peace.
For the occasion, Brigitte Macron opted for a black, knee-length coat dress and completed her look with a scarf, adhering to the tradition for first ladies meeting the pontiff—black attire is customary, except for queens of Catholic countries like Monaco.
The meeting itself attracted considerable attention due to the couple’s high-profile status. Brigitte, 24 years older than her husband, has been the subject of much public discussion in France and beyond, with some even speculating about her past. There have long been rumors that Brigitte was born a man, claims that she and Emmanuel have publicly debunked, especially during a legal battle against journalists who made such accusations.
Despite these controversies, the couple has remained in the spotlight, often fueling the conversation around their unconventional relationship. In 2025, a viral video surfaced showing Brigitte slapping Emmanuel during a public event. The incident quickly became a point of speculation, with Emmanuel later brushing it off as playful behavior, stating they were simply “fooling around.”
In April 2026, the situation was humorously revisited by U.S. President Donald Trump, who joked that Emmanuel was “still recovering” from the slap, keeping their relationship in the public eye for longer than perhaps either of them had anticipated.
