A few days apart, two visitors came to France: Pope Leo XIV, and Mohammed bin Salman. Hedy Belhassine sets them in a distorting mirror. At Saint-Denis, on the Champs-Élysées, in Metz and at Lourdes, Leo drew a fervour unseen since de Gaulle at the Liberation. The visit was apostolic, and diplomatic: the smallest state on earth, armed with 2.4 billion faithful. Macron offered a handshake, a set speech, and a side door into Mass at Metz, where Church and State are not separated. Then the Élysée returned to MBS, crown prince, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, owner of oil, sand and subjects. He has the most powerful armoury in the Arab world, but the suppliers kept the key. Trump will not move while the embrace with Netanyahu is refused; Turks, Pakistanis and Egyptians promised, and forgot. Paris offered frigates, discretion over Yanbu, and, as a diversion, AlUla and a leisure park. French Muslims, watching Leo on television, imagined a homily at the Grand Mosque of Paris, calling hearts to union, love and peace. Prince MBS kept silent.
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