Emmanuel Macron will be present in Marseille on Saturday, on the second day of Pope Francis’ visit to the Marseille city. The President of the Republic was very keen to meet the sovereign pontiff during this trip. Emmanuel Macron will not only have an audience with the Pope, he will also be present at mass at the Vélodrome, even if it means being criticized.
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In Marseille, this Saturday, the President of the Republic will closely follow Pope Francis: first at the Pharo Palace, in the morning, for the closing session of the Mediterranean Meetings, a summit which brings together nearly 70 bishops from around the Mare Nostrum. He will listen to his speech, before a closed-door interview which should last half an hour.
And in the afternoon, he will be at the Vélodrome for the pontiff’s mass, before accompanying him to the airport. Asked about a risk of political recovery, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille and great architect of the pope’s arrival, is cautious: “ There is always a risk of exploitation, that’s normal, but I think it is contained », he underlines, noting that no public speeches by the President of the Republic are planned.
For the French president, the opportunity was too good. Emmanuel Macron did everything to participate in this visit of the Pope to Marseille, his city of heart, to which Francis chose to go for what is not a state visit. The Vatican has insisted on this point. A minister brushes aside the controversies by explaining that the Pope is also a head of state, so it is normal for Emmanuel Macron to come and meet him in Marseille.
From there to attend mass? No problem, we proclaim to the government: “ the French are not shocked, because they are respectful of the figure of the Pope » and then, some concede in a tone of confidence, Emmanuel Macron “ expresses his faith ”, of his interest in “ transcendence “. An important subject for him, a subject that he “ built “.
Between spirituality and politics, the Élysée has decided. Emmanuel Macron will attend mass but will not take communion. A way of avoiding the process of non-respect of secularism. There remains the sensitive question of migration, the Pope’s priority, on which French policy is placed under the sign of firmness. The left invites Emmanuel Macron to listen to Francis’ message on welcoming migrants.