Emmanuel Macron sworn in as French president
The independent centrist will meet with Angela Merkel on Monday.
— -- France officially has a new leader: Independent centrist Emmanuel Macron was inaugurated Sunday morning as the country's president.
Macron, 39, is the youngest president in France's history. He was elected on May 7, beating his far-right rival, Marine Le Pen.
The official result of the vote was proclaimed in a ceremony Sunday at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris by the president of the Constitutional Council, Laurent Fabius.
Macron met for an hour with his predecessor Socialist Francois Hollande before being sworn in. The pair met in the president's office to discuss issues of national security, including the country's nuclear codes.
During his inauguration speech, Macron said, "We will take all our responsibilities to provide, every time it's needed, a relevant response to big contemporary crises."
He cited "the excesses of capitalism in the world" and climate change among his future challenges.
After the ceremony and military honors at the Elysee palace, Macron is slated to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe — a tradition followed by France's newly sworn-in leaders.
Macron will meet with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Sunday afternoon.
The pro-business, pro-EU Macron has a busy first week ahead: He will travel to Germany on Monday to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel, and he will have to name a prime minister and form a government.
Before being sworn in, Macron posted a series of tweets that echoed his campaign mantra.
"The world and Europe today, more than ever, need France," read one tweet in French.
"I will see to it that our country is experiencing a renewal of democratic vitality," read another. "Citizens will have a voice. They will be listened to."
He also tweeted, "The mandate entrusted to me by the French gives them the right to an absolute, total demand."
Macron demonstrated his of-the-people sensibility Sunday, wearing a dark suit from French brand Jonas and Cie that cost less than $500, his office told The Associated Press. His wife, Brigitte Macron, wore a lavender-blue dress by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Louis Vuitton.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.