Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco attended a peace conference in Metz alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. The gathering served as the finale to Pope Leo XIV's four-day visit to France.
The Robert Schuman legacy in Metz
The conference, titled "At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity," was strategically held in Metz, the hometown of Robert Schuman,one of the founding fathers of the European Union. According to the report, the event took place near the German border and saw the attendance of all European Union heads of state as well as the leaders of various European institutions.
During the proceedings, Pope Leo XIV described the gathering as a "new stage in the history of contemporary Europe." The Pontiff specifically urged younger Europeans to reject the "mentality of violence and oppression" and encouraged them to pursue the betterment of their communities through active political engagement.
Pope Leo XIV also called for a renewed European unity to combat "lies and deceit." He urged the assembled leaders and citizens to draw upon Christian roots to move past the desire for domination that he claimed is driving modern warfare, suggesting that peace requires a willingness to concede certain positions for the collective good.
The 'privilège du blanc' and the seven eligible women
A significant point of diplomatic protocol occurred when Princess Charlene of Monaco exercised the privilège du blanc.. As reported, this rare honor allows only queens and princesses from Catholic countries to wear white when meeting the Pope. Princess Charlene wore a white suit ensemble with a statement collar and a matching gold-detailed handbag.
This stands in stark contrast to standard papal protocol , which typically requires women to wear a long black dress with a high collar, long sleeves, and a black mantilla.. Brigitte Macron followed this traditional protocol, wearing a black dress accented with a gold brooch.
The report notes that Princess Charlene is one of only seven women globally who possess this privilege. The privilège du blanc is reserved for high-stakes events, including special masses, beatifications, canonisations, and private audiences with the Pontiff.
From 600,000 Parisians to the Monaco state dinner
The Metz conference was the culmination of a dense itinerary for Pope Leo XIV, who was elected in May. The visit included a massive mid-afternoon mass on September 26 at Paris's Place de la Concorde, where over 600,000 registered Catholics gathered. Spectators reportedly lined the Champs-Élysées before dawn to watch the Pope pass in an open-top popemobile.
This diplomatic circuit reinforces a strengthening relationship between the French government and the Monégasque royal family. The meeting in Metz follows a state dinner held last June in Monaco, which was the first such event with a French leader in over 40 years. Furthermore, in March, Princess Charlene and her daughter also utilized the privilège du blanc during Pope Leo XIV's first visit to Monaco since his ellection.
The specifics of Pope Leo XIV's 'new stage' for Europe
While the conference focused on unity, several specific details remain unverified. the report mentions that Pope Leo XIV called for a "willingness to give up some positions for the greater good of peace," yet it does not specify which political or territorial positions the Pope is referring to in the context of current European conflicts.
Additionally, while the event was attended by all EU heads of state, the source does not provide details on whether any formal policy agreements or treaties were signed during the "At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity" summit, leaving it unclear if the event was purely symbolic or aimed at concrete legislative change.
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