The French president spoke for an hour with the Argentine pontiff, before being received by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican number two, and Bishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states.

According to diplomatic sources, these talks were to be an opportunity to address the migration crises at the gates of Europe, after the shipwreck that claimed the lives of 27 migrants on Wednesday in the Channel, and the Sauvé report on sexual abuse in the Church in France, on which the Pope has already expressed his "immense sadness" and a feeling of "shame".

Nothing, however, on this affair in the official press releases.

According to the Vatican, "the discussion focused on a number of international issues, including the protection of the environment in the light of the results of the COP26" and "the prospects of the next French presidency of the European Union" which will begin. in January 2022.

On the migration issue, "they discussed the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border, both wishing for the deployment of humanitarian aid in favor of people stranded there," the Elysee said in a statement.

Lebanon, Ethiopia and Venezuela

The two men also "spoke about the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to allow everyone access to the vaccine", as well as the situation in Venezuela and the conflict in Ethiopia, specifies the Elysee.

Regarding Lebanon, in the grip of a historic economic and social crisis, they "spoke at length about the need to continue humanitarian aid while reaffirming the urgency of carrying out the necessary reforms in the country".

On images released by the Vatican, the Pope and Mr. Macron appeared smiling, on familiar terms in a warm atmosphere.

The French president offered the sovereign pontiff two biographies of Ignace de Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order from which the Argentine pope came: a first, rare, from 1585 and a second work, "Inigo", by François Sureau, member of the French Academy.

In return, the Pope offered him a ceramic painting depicting St. Peter's Basilica and papal texts.

The French president returned to the management of the migration crisis, exposing his vision of "humanism, but with rules" and the need "to have cooperation policies with countries of origin and transit to avoid these movements undergone ".

Sawtooth

Through this visit to the Vatican, a month after that of his Prime Minister Jean Castex, Emmanuel Macron manages a Catholic electorate with whom relations have been cooled by the adoption of the bioethics law as well as by restrictions on access to funerals and at masses during the health crisis.

The reminder of the law concerning the secrecy of confession has also been a bone of contention.

And another tension could arise if he included in the program of a second five-year term the right to die "with dignity", as some of his relatives wish.

Emmanuel Macron's visit to the Vatican is a mark of respect in a relationship that has been a roller coaster.

In April 2018, before the bishops gathered in the College of Bernardins, in Paris, the French president said he wanted to "repair the link between Church and State" which "has been damaged".

He was also the first president to visit Lourdes in July.

President Emmanuel Macron and Pope Francis, during a visit to the Vatican, June 26, 2018 Alessandra Tarantino POOL / AFP

But he also declared, with regard to the law on assisted reproduction, that the voice of the Church on matters of society "cannot be injunctive".

Another goal of his trip, the signing of the Quirinal Treaty, concluded between France and Italy, which emphasizes strengthening cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the defense and security sector, culture and education.

© 2021 AFP