Mayalène Trémolet / Photo credit: Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP
For this last day of World Youth Day in Lisbon, Pope Francis is to give a high mass in the Portuguese capital. Among the 40,000 young French people present on the spot, some may have the opportunity to see the Pope again next September, during a planned trip to Marseille where he will meet Emmanuel Macron.
For the fourth time, Pope Francis is expected to meet Emmanuel Macron during a trip to Marseille in September. As the 86-year-old pontiff celebrates World Youth Day in Lisbon, he will soon be meeting French Catholics again. It was also an opportunity for the President of the Republic to strengthen his special ties with the Pope. Author of the book Why them, they made our timethe Vaticanist Caroline Pigozzi distinguishes their relationship from that of the other presidents of the Fifth Republic.
More meetings than with any other president
“What struck the pope, I believe, was the youth of Emmanuel Macron. But they managed to establish a relationship that was both political and I don’t know if we can say spiritual, but in any case what is fun, it’s a joyful relationship”, explains the Vaticanist. Meetings which therefore have a strong symbolism. The pope is a religious leader, but also a head of state. In the case of François, the interviews with presidents tackle political subjects such as immigration or even ecology.
Another element: the pope is a Jesuit, as are the monks of Providence, an establishment where Emmanuel Macron studied in his youth. An element which, according to Caroline Pigozzi, would also contribute to their good understanding. It should be noted that no President of the Fifth Republic has met a sovereign pontiff so many times during his term of office. Pope Francis will be in Marseilles on September 22 and 23 to close the Mediterranean meetings.