Macron, the 'pope-loving' president, faces strained relations with the Vatican ahead of Leo XIV's visit to Paris
- Posted on September 19, 2026
- By Le Monde
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic strategy has consistently prioritized papal relations since assuming the presidency, marked by unconventional protocol breaches and gestures of personal rapport. Critics argue these initiatives represent attempts to leverage Vatican influence for political purposes. The forthcoming papal visit to Paris presents a critical moment in French-Holy See relations, potentially exposing underlying tensions between institutional formality and Macron's personalized approach to international diplomacy with religious leadership.
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Macron, the 'pope-loving' president, faces strained relations with the Vatican ahead of Leo XIV's visit to Paris
Ever since he first took office, Emmanuel Macron has placed great importance on his relationships with popes. His repeated invitations, breaches of protocol and displays of 'familiarity' have at times been seen as 'attempts to instrumentalize' the relationship.
