Vatican Denies Rumor That Pope Leo XIV Refused Audience to President Macron

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni has denied to journalist Matteo Matzuzzi as “completely false” the fake news claiming that Pope Leo XIV refused to grant French President Emmanuel Macron an audience.
The rumours began circulating widely on January 20. The implausible story claimed that Pope Leo XIV had refused to receive Macron because of the new stained-glass windows in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
In reality, there has been no refusal, no cancelled audience, and no diplomatic incident between Leo XIV and the French president.
The unfounded report alleged:
- Pope Leo XIV was irritated with Emmanuel Macron and had cancelled a planned meeting
- The Pope considered the replacement of the stained-glass windows at Notre-Dame Cathedral a “travesty”
- French euthanasia legislation had provoked Vatican anger
- The climate between France and the Holy See was “toxic”
The fake news attributed these statements to Vatican archivist and librarian Monsignor Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi.
Monsignor Pagazzi …More