In Paris, Lula is the second Brazilian leader in history to be received by the French Academy

“The Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL) was born from a dream: Brazilian intellectuals dreamed of creating a space for reflection and creation similar to that of the French Academy, but in the tropics.” This was how President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defined the deep and respectful cultural relationship between Brazil and France during the tribute he received in Paris on Thursday, June 5, from the French Academy Immortals. The private meeting was part of President Lula’s third State visit to France, the first one in his third administration.

The connection between the ABL and the French Academy is testimony to the communion of minds of two countries that understand that — to remain complete and alive — words need institutions that cultivate, promote, and defend them”

LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA
President of the Republic of Brazil

During the session, President Lula received a medal of honor that has been presented to only 19 heads of State over the past 400 years, including Emperor Dom Pedro II, in 1872. “The connection between the ABL and the French Academy is testimony to the communion of minds of two countries that understand that — to remain complete and alive — words need institutions that cultivate, promote, and defend them,” stated President Lula in his official speech.

» Speech by President Lula at the opening of the event at the French Academy

» Speech by President Lula during debate on the “multilateralism” entry

The model and principles of ABL, founded in 1897, were directly inspired by the French model, including the institution's concession of the title of “Immortals” to its members, as well as other characteristics. “At the head of this project was an extraordinary man: Machado de Assis. Grandson of enslaved people — and self-taught — he was one of the modern world’s greatest literary intelligences.”

HUMBLE ORIGINS – In a clear state of emotion, President Lula declared: “I would like to tell the members of the Academy that you are paying tribute to a Brazilian citizen who is not an academic. I was born in a very poor region in my country, the Brazilian Northeast. I only have a primary school diploma and a technical [college] course. Everything else, I have learnt from life, to survive. I would like to tell you that I am very proud to be the second Brazilian citizen to be honored in this Academy”. The message was published online on the President’s social media profiles.

Focusing on the importance of our languages, both with Latin origins, the meeting also marked the inclusion of the word “multilateralism” (multilatéralisme) in the French dictionary. The essential contributions of Tupi-Guarani, Kimbundu, and Yoruba – “brought over in the bowels of slavery” – to the current Portuguese Language were also recognized. “The term has already been included in the dictionaries in Brazil, but does not yet appear in the French Academy’s dictionary,” explained President Lula.

Eu queria dizer aos membros da Academia que vocês estão homenageando um cidadão brasileiro que não é acadêmico. Eu nasci numa região muito pobre em meu país, o Nordeste brasileiro. Eu só tenho um diploma primário e um curso técnico. O restante eu aprendi na vida, para sobreviver.… pic.twitter.com/CZF4OASzr2

— Lula (@LulaOficial) June 5, 2025

VALUES AND OBJECTIVES – The word gained relevance and became more commonly used between the 1960s and 1970s due to the Brazilian international stance, and has currently become part of the essential vocabulary of world diplomacy. “The term multilateral describes a negotiation in which several countries participate. The word multilateralism, on the other hand, denotes a set of values and objectives. It presupposes a specific type of interaction in which countries come together to find collective solutions to common problems,” stated the Brazilian President.

This shared vision also guides the joint actions of the leaders of both countries. The strong partnership between Brazil and France has been the motto for this visit in several particular issues, including humanism at the service of progress and the calls for the end of hostilities in Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip.

→ Read the joint statement by President Lula and President Emmanuel Macron

The Immortals gifted President Lula a copy of the first edition of the French Academy’s dictionary including the word multilatéralisme. “Multilateralism was decisive to decolonization; to the prohibition of chemical and biological weapons; to the affirmation of human rights; to the promotion of free trade; to the protection of the environment; and to the resolution of several conflicts around the world,” Lula recalled.

In December 2018, the United Nations instituted April 24 as the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, reinforcing this concept. “Collective action saved us from diving into the abyss again and again during the 80 years of the UN's existence. Unfortunately, we are forgetting these lessons.” The Brazilian President noted the eradication of smallpox, the preservation of the ozone layer, and the guarantee of basic rights of workers among the several advancements that can be attributed to multilateral actions.

“Democracy and multilateralism are the two faces of the same worldview — based on dialogue and respect for plurality. Defending multilateral institutions is therefore defending democratic institutions,” concluded President Lula, calling for the recovery of the power of the term and its potential to transform the reality of humanity for the better.