On Tuesday, shortly after the passing of Pope Francis, French President Emmanuel Macron announced he would cancel his planned trip to Mauritius to attend the pontiff’s funeral in the Vatican on Saturday. This decision highlights the intricate dynamics of Franco-Vatican relations, which have been characterized by both warmth and underlying tensions.
Cordial yet contentious interactions
The interactions between the Jesuit Pope and the French President are noteworthy, particularly as Macron was educated in a Jesuit institution. Their relationship exhibited moments of cordiality, with instances of personal warmth—such as Macron greeting the Pope with a kiss on the cheek during a meeting at the Vatican in 2018. The two leaders operated on first-name terms, which is often indicative of a closer rapport.
However, significant disagreements arose between them, particularly regarding key issues such as France’s constitutional enshrinement of abortion rights and the ongoing debate surrounding assisted dying. These topics illustrated a divergence in viewpoints that occasionally strained their relationship. Despite criticisms of being distant towards France, Pope Francis made three visits to the country during his 12-year papacy—more than to any other nation—yet each visit was fraught with misunderstandings that prompted speculation about the nature of this relationship.
Symbolic visits and unanswered invitations
Francis’ inaugural visit to France in 2014 was officially categorized as a European trip, where he addressed the Council of Europe and the European Parliament in Strasbourg. However, his failure to visit the city’s renowned cathedral drew criticism at the time. In 2023, the Pope returned to France to speak in Marseille, addressing the humanitarian crisis of migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. Notably, he made headlines with the statement, “I’ll go to Marseille, not France,” which fueled speculation about his intent to distance himself from the French government’s policies.
During this trip, the Pope rallied a crowd of 60,000 at the Velodrome stadium, where he celebrated mass and advocated for a compassionate approach to migration, subtly contrasting Macron’s stringent immigration policies. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot remarked on the nature of their exchanges, stating that while there were “very frank exchanges between the two heads of state,” each maintained their distinct roles.
A particularly telling moment in their relationship occurred in December 2024 when Pope Francis did not attend the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, five years after the devastating fire. Instead, he opted for a trip to Corsica, which would ultimately be his last overseas visit. This decision was perceived by some as a diplomatic slight. However, historian Martin Dumont suggested it was indicative of the Pope’s commitment to engaging with what he termed the “peripheries” of the Catholic world, emphasizing his preference for pastoral visits over state occasions that would involve excessive pomp and protocol.
Throughout his papacy, the Pope has demonstrated a clear inclination to prioritize visits to less affluent and war-torn regions rather than focusing on major Catholic nations like Germany, Spain, and the UK, further illustrating the complexity of his relationship with France and its president.