While the conclave will start on May 7 to designate the successor of Pope Francis, who died on April 21, part of the Italian press accuses Emmanuel Macron of maneuvering in the shadows to weigh on the pontifical election. The controversy swells in Rome, fueled by suspicions of interference relayed by several conservative titles, reports the world.
It is The truth Who launched the offensive in one, Tuesday April 29: “Macron even wants to choose the pope”. The tone is set. Other newspapers close to the Meloni government such as Libero or Time have followed suit, denouncing “interventionism worthy of a modern sun king”. These attacks mainly aim at the supposed links between the French president and the Catholic movement Sant’Egidio, influence Roman circles and close to the deceased pontiff.
Two meetings at the origin of rumors
At the origin of rumors: two private meals, very commented. The first, a lunch at the French Embassy near the Holy See, gathered on April 26 Emmanuel Macron and four of the five French Cardinals Voters, including Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, considered papabile. The second, a dinner the day before in a chic restaurant in Piazza del Popolo, brought together the French president and Andrea Riccardi, founder of Sant’Egidio, with whom he maintains long -standing relationships.
According to The worldthese meetings were enough to fuel the thesis of an influence operation orchestrated by Paris to promote candidates favorable to his vision, whether French or Italian. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian episcopal conference, is cited in particular. Coming from Sant’Egidio, close to Pope Francis, favorable to the reception of migrants and criticism of the reforms of the Italian radical right, Matteo Zuppi is perceived as supported by France against the interests of the Meloni government.
Meloni government’s anti -French feeling
On the side of Sant’Egidio, these allegations are firmly rejected. “Emmanuel Macron seeks to understand the process, not to influence it,” said the movement. Same tone on the side of the liberal daily The sheetwhich is derived from this “big plot” imagined by the right, seeing it as a demonstration of anti -French feelings among the relatives of Giorgia Meloni.
Our file on the Vatican
The tensions between the French president and the head of the Italian government do not date from yesterday. Their first meeting, in October 2022, barely a few days after the victory of Giorgia Meloni in the legislative elections, was held in an icy atmosphere, immortalized by a tense hands. Since then, mutual distrust has never dissipated.
