The French president has met with cardinal electors to boost support for his favored candidate, Italian media claims
French President Emmanuel Macron is attempting to influence the upcoming papal conclave in favor of a French candidate to become the next Pope, several conservative Italian media outlets have claimed.
The reports emerged following meetings between the French leader and several cardinal electors, as well as a leader of an influential Catholic movement ahead of the conclave set to determine Francis’ successor.
Macron had lunch with four of the five cardinal electors of French descent, including Jean-Marc Aveline, the archbishop of Marseille, last Saturday on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral. The pontiff passed away on April 21.
Last Friday, the French president also had dinner at a restaurant in Rome with Andrea Riccardi, the head of the Community of Sant’Egidio, a powerful Catholic association with more than 70,000 lay members in 74 countries, and which reportedly has clout over some members of the upcoming conclave.
According to the Italian daily Il Tempo, the French leader asked the cardinals about ways to build a consensus around Aveline. The outlet called the cardinal – who is considered a contender to become the next Pope – an “ultra-European, anti-sovereignist” and “one of the most liberal” members of the conclave.
The daily also described the meetings as an example of “interventionism worthy of a new Sun King,” in an apparent reference to France’s 17th century King Louis XIV, who sought to influence the election of a Pope through French cardinals. Another Italian paper, La Verita, directly accused Macron of seeking to choose the next Pope.
The Elysee Palace did not officially comment on the agenda of the two meetings. The Community of Sant’Egidio denied the allegations, telling Le Monde on Thursday that Macron “seeks to understand the process, not influence it.”
Conservative Italian media linked the president’s actions to his desire to regain international influence and mend ties with the Holy See, which reportedly soured under Pope Francis. These claims caught the attention of French news outlets, including Le Monde, which said their Italian colleagues were spreading “rumors,” reflecting the mutual distrust between Paris and Rome.
A conclave involving 135 cardinals is set to convene at the Vatican on May 7 to elect the next Pope.
