Pope's first visit to France

September 12, 2008

Pope Benedict has started a four-day tour of France with a meeting at the Elysee Palace with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The two men delivered short speeches which the French people were expected to follow closely for clues on how far they go in advocating a role for religion in the public sphere. President Sarkozy, who has said that he sees a positive role for faith in public life, broke with protocol and greeted the German-born pontiff as he descended from his plane at Orly airport, south of the French capital.