In Orly, Brigitte Macron welcomed Pope Leo XIV in a simple black outfit, alongside the President of the Republic, on the red carpet set up at the foot of the plane. This official arrival, accompanied by the singing of children from the diocese of Créteil, set the tone for a three-day papal visit: solemn, very structured, and closely followed even in its fashion details.
In Orly, an official welcome marked by protocol
On Friday, September 25, Leo XIV landed at Orly airport under a bright sun. Emmanuel Macron and his wife were waiting for him at the foot of the aircraft, surrounded in particular by children who came to sing and by bishops present for this ceremony. The presidential couple had already met the pontiff during a private visit to the Vatican in April.
Brigitte Macron then walked down the red carpet alongside the pope and the head of state, before their departure for the Élysée. A private exchange was to precede a speech by Leo XIV. Images from this sequence can be found in the report dedicated to the welcome at Orly.
Why Brigitte Macron chose a black outfit
The First Lady wore a black dress with a simple cut, a choice associated with protocol when meeting the pope. In this highly codified framework, the outfit does not seek to compete with the ceremony: it complements its institutional character. Elegance here lies in simplicity, more than in a spectacular effect.
The garment naturally drew attention, as often happens during Brigitte Macron’s public appearances. However, the focus on fashion should not overshadow the function of this day: to host the head of the Catholic Church in an official setting. A reflection on her clothing choice also emphasizes this protocol dimension.
A papal visit marked by several appointments in Paris
After Orly, the announced program took Leo XIV to the Élysée for the welcome ceremony, then to Unesco. The visit was also expected to include a ride through the streets of Paris in the papamobile and a mass at Notre-Dame. All these stages give this trip a diplomatic, religious, and popular significance.
The schedule also included a vigil with young people at the Stade de France and a visit to the Bakhita House, a center dedicated to support and social integration. These appointments extend the message of the arrival ceremony: beyond the official images, the meeting addresses varied audiences.
From the Place de la Concorde to the continuation of the trip
A mass at the Place de la Concorde was also on the agenda, with up to 500,000 people expected according to the communicated details. After Paris, the pope was to continue his trip to Lourdes, then to Metz. A possible announcement related to the canonization of Robert Schuman was mentioned for this last stage; however, it was part of the announced program, not an already established result.
This succession of significant moments explains the attention paid to the welcome at Orly: the first image of a busy journey, it blends republican protocol and religious presence. To find other insights into Brigitte Macron’s public appearances, also discover this article on the style codes of Brigitte Macron.
Brigitte Macron’s black outfit thus accompanied an official welcome where every detail counts, from the red carpet to the children’s songs. To learn more about Sébastien Auzière and the Macron family, check out the articles from sebastien-auziere.fr dedicated to Brigitte Macron.
