This is the third meeting of the French head of state and the sovereign pontiff.
Le Monde with afp
Emmanuel Macron was received Monday October 24 by Pope Francis in the Vatican, against a backdrop of war in Ukraine and debate on the end of life in France. The French head of state, accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron, arrived at the apostolic palace, who adjoins the Saint-Pierre basilica in Rome, for a private audience.
The tête-à-tête with the sovereign pontiff had to be followed by an interview with the number two of the Holy See, the Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as well as with the “Minister” of foreign affairs of the Pope, M GR Paul GALLAGHER.
This is his third papal hearing: the first had taken place in June 2018, while the second dates back to almost a year, in November 2021.
President Macron has been in Rome since Sunday when he delivered a speech at the opening of an interreligious peace summit organized by the Italian Catholic community Sant’Egidio. He delivered a plea for peace in Ukraine, while recalling that it could only take place when the Ukrainians “will decide” and in the “terms” of kyiv.
the opposite pope at euthanasia
On the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has continued to condemn the conflict since February, while trying to maintain a diplomatic dialogue with Moscow and the Russian Orthodox Church, aligned with Kremlin’s positions .
m. Macron also called religions, in his Sunday speech, to their “duty of resistance” against “the drive of purity” and the return of “great fears” which agitate Western societies.
According to the Elysée, the interview also had to relate to social debates in France, such as the reception of refugees and perhaps the end of life. The pope rose to euthanasia on Friday during a speech to French elected officials, at the very moment when Paris is preparing to launch a citizen convention on this delicate issue to lead to a possible change in the law.
The French President met on Sunday evening on the Catimini the new Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, becoming the first foreign leader to face face to face with the leader of the postfascist party Fratelli of Italia, winner of the elections of September in Italy. He must see Monday the Italian Head of State, Sergio Mattarella, during a private lunch.