Emmanuel Macron rearranges his schedule to attend the mass celebrated by Leon XIV in Metz
Emmanuel Macron will ultimately be present at the mass of Leon XIV this Monday, September 28, at the Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Metz. This change in schedule marks a turning point on the final day of the papal visit to France: the president will also attend the departure ceremony of the sovereign pontiff.
In brief: initially expected only at the European meeting, the head of state has reorganized his agenda to join the service scheduled for 4 p.m. He will then meet the pope at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine airport before his departure for Rome.
In Metz, Emmanuel Macron modifies his presidential agenda
Until this announcement, Emmanuel Macron was to introduce Leon XIV’s speech at the Robert-Schuman Congress Center, before European representatives, without attending a religious ceremony. The presidency now indicates that the president has rearranged his schedule to be present at the 4 p.m. mass.
This official trip thus adds to his political appointments. Franceinfo details this announced presence, which gives the last stage of the papal visit an additional institutional and symbolic dimension.
A notable presence after the Parisian masses
The president did not attend either the Notre-Dame mass on Friday or the one celebrated outdoors on Saturday, September 26, in Place de la Concorde and on the Champs-Élysées. Brigitte Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu notably represented him at this last celebration.
In 2023, Emmanuel Macron had attended Pope Francis’s mass at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille. His presence had sparked criticism related to secularism. He then explained that he participated as the president of a secular country welcoming the pope, and not as a Catholic. RTL reviews this change in schedule.
Leon XIV in Metz: Europe at the heart of the papal visit
The day begins at 10 a.m. with an interreligious meeting at the Robert-Schuman Congress Center. At 11 a.m., the meeting “At the roots of Europe for peace and unity” will bring together the pope and European representatives; Emmanuel Macron is to present Leon XIV’s speech.
Invitations have been sent to the leaders of the 26 other EU countries as well as to European institutions. Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden has confirmed his attendance. According to the information provided, the schedules of Friedrich Merz, Pedro Sánchez, and Giorgia Meloni do not plan for a trip to Metz.
The religious ceremony before the pope’s departure
After the mass, Emmanuel Macron will meet Leon XIV at 6:30 p.m. at Metz-Nancy-Lorraine airport for the congedo, a term used in the Vatican for the departure ceremony. The president will thus bid farewell to the pope before his flight to Fiumicino, the final sequence of this pontifical event in France.
The two men had already met on Friday: Emmanuel Macron had welcomed Leon XIV at Orly, then received him at the Élysée. They then gave speeches in front of French authorities and the diplomatic corps. This succession of meetings highlights the dual political and religious aspect of the visit.
To further explore the current events of the Macron family and its ties with the Vatican, also find references on Emmanuel Macron and Leon XIV, as well as on Brigitte Macron welcoming the pope. Other content dedicated to Sébastien Auzière and the Macron family can be discovered on sebastien-auziere.fr.
