Since Wednesday, the possibility of Emmanuel Macron going to the mass celebrated by Pope Francis during his visit on September 22 and 23 to Marseille has sparked criticism from members of La France insoumise, who see it as an attack on secularism. Despite everything, the Élysée confirmed this Thursday, September 14, that the President of the Republic would go to this “popular” and “festive” event. The entourage of the Head of State considered that the separation between Church and State did not “absolutely exclude the Republic from maintaining relations” with “all religions”.
It was clarified that the president would not participate “in the Eucharist,” that is, he will not participate in the sacrament of communion, during which the faithful receive the host. According to an advisor, Emmanuel Macron will not go to this mass “as a believer”, but “as head of state”, and has already visited synagogues in the past or participated in the “ breaking the fast” during the Muslim month of Ramadan.
“I respect the faith and the faithful. But, I disagree with the fact that an elected official and in particular the President of the Republic, participates in his capacity in a religious ceremony,” LFI deputy Alexis Corbière said on X (formerly Twitter). The Élysée noted that the controversy only emanated “from the same political party”.
It is the Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, who will welcome the Pope on Friday September 22 upon his arrival in Marseille. Emmanuel Macron will be present the next morning at the closing of the meetings between bishops and young people from all over the Mediterranean, which will focus in particular on migration, but will not speak.
He will then have a face-to-face meeting with Francis, his fourth since he was first elected to the presidency in 2017. The head of state will finally accompany the pope to the airport after the mass, and will on this occasion another “brief interview” with him, according to the Élysée.