On Saturday, September 23, Pope Francis met twice with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron.

The first, brief encounter was a greeting on the front terrace of the auditorium under the Palais du Pharo in Marseille, where the Pope participated in the concluding session of the Rencontres Méditerranéennes. The two then met privately in the Salon d'honneur du Maire. President Macron came to welcome the Holy Father with his wife Brigitte to the southern city, chosen as the destination of his 44th Apostolic Journey.

Macron was seated in the front row of the large hall where the Pope delivered his speech at the close of the Rencontres Méditerranéennes (Mediterranean Encounters), at the end of which the Pontiff quoted an anecdote about the President: "Once the president invited me to visit France and he told me, 'the important thing is that you come to Marseille'."

According to a statement by the Holy See Press Office, after an official photo, "a private conversation took place, followed by the presentation of the president's family and the exchange of gifts". At the same time, reads the statement, in a room nearby, "a short meeting took place between Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Madame Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne". Present at this meeting were also the Deputy Secretary of State Edgar Peña Parra; the Apostolic Nuncio to France, Titular Archbishop of Canosa, His Excellency Archbishop Celestino Migliore; and a Nunciature Councillor.

"At the end of the meeting with the President of the Republic, the Holy Father returned by car to the Archbishopric where he had lunch in private".

Pope meets with people living in poverty in Marseille

On Saturday, September 23, Pope Francis held a brief meeting with Mr. Margaritis Schinas, the vice-president of the European Commission, at the Archbishop's Residence in Marseille. He also met with several people working for various organizations that rescue migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

Afterwards, he traveled to the residence of the Missionaries of Charity, which is in Saint-Mauront, considered the poorest neighborhood in France.

Speaking to the religious sisters and several people facing financial hardship, Pope Francis encouraged everyone to overcome political, social, or religious differences in order to build fraternity.

"Fraternity unites us," said the Pope. "It is a prophetic act to live as brothers and sisters. Beyond all religious or political differences, we are brothers and sisters."

According to Sister Crosvita, one of the Missionaries serving in the facility, the soup kitchen serves lunch to around 250 people every day, except Thursday, their day of rest.

Asked why she and her sisters carry out their mission on behalf of the poor, Sr. Crosvita said simply: "To see Christ in others, in any person whom we meet."

The Pope has traveled to the city to take part in the conclusion of the Mediterranean Meetings, which gathered around 70 bishops and 120 young people from across the region.

Held annually, the Meetings seek to highlight the issue of migration and the need for the Church and civil leaders to recognize people's inherent dignity, even if they are forced to leave their homelands in search of a better life.

Pope Francis wraps up the week-long encounter on Saturday, before celebrating Mass in Marseille and returning to Rome.