Unsplash / Anthony Choren
VATICAN CITY // French officials are denouncing Italian media rumors that the government of France has tried to interfere with the outcome of the conclave.
In an interview clip posted May 6 with RTL radio, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said it was “fake news” to claim that France was involved in “a covert and discreet campaign to try to elect a French pope.”
“We are paying close attention tomorrow, that is, the conclave,” he said. “But we are not interfering in any way.”
He said that if the related French cardinals were asked about it, they would explain “they are not taking any voting instructions.” Barrot also noted that he does not perceive any issues with a French pope being elected.
According to an April 6 article in RTL, several daily Italian newspapers recently ran stories headlined, “Macron also wants to choose the Pope,” “Macron invites himself to the conclave,” and “Interventionism worthy of a modern Sun King” – a reference to 18th-century French King Louis XIV.
French President Emmanuel Macron attended the late Pope Francis’ funeral April 26 and had a luncheon immediately after with four French cardinals who will be voting in the conclave, according to RTL. While in Rome, Macron also had a meeting with Italian politician and professor Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio. The Rome-based church of Sant’Egidio is the titular parish of Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.
The X account for French Ambassador to Italy Martin Briens, as well as the French president’s Élysée Palace, both posted on X denouncing the interference rumors as false.
“While lunching with the French cardinals, the President of the Republic adhered to the republican customs in effect and respected by his predecessors following a Pope’s funeral,” Élysée posted. “These manipulations of information are not worthy.”