Pope Leo XIV's Visit to Paris: Emmanuel Macron's Strained Relations with the Vatican

The daily newspaper Le Monde revisits, on the occasion of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Paris, the ties that Emmanuel Macron has maintained since arriving at the Élysée with the Holy See. According to the newspaper, the French president places particular importance on his relations with successive pontiffs.

According to Le Monde, these relations are expressed through repeated invitations extended to the Vatican, as well as through departures from the usual protocol governing exchanges between France and the Holy See. The newspaper also mentions "familiarities" on the part of the French president toward the popes.

These behaviors have sometimes been perceived, still according to Le Monde, as "attempts at co-optation" on the part of Emmanuel Macron, though the newspaper does not provide further details about the source of these criticisms.

Le Monde describes the French president as "papophile," a term used in the article's headline to characterize his marked interest in relations with the Vatican since the beginning of his term.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to Paris, which prompted this analysis, takes place in this context of relations described as "strained" between the French presidency and Rome, although the precise details of these tensions are not developed in the excerpt consulted.