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The president of the Les Républicains group in the National Assembly, Olivier Marleix, reacts this Tuesday on franceinfo to the arrival of Emmanuel Macron in Marseille, for Pope Francis’ mass.
“The mass is not a one-man show, it is not a happening”, reacted Olivier Marleix, president of the Les Républicains group at the National Assembly while Emmanuel Macron will attend Saturday September 23, with his wife, the office of Pope Francis in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône). The presence of the President of the Republic has been controversial for several days, particularly on the benches of the left, which sees it as an attack on secularism, established by the law of 1905 which separates the Church from the State and guarantees religious freedom.
>> Pope’s visit to Marseille: why Emmanuel Macron’s presence at mass is symbolic, but not incompatible with secularism
“It is a moment which brings together the faithful, believers. That the President of the Republic goes to welcome the Pope on the tarmac, that he meets him, that is very good, the Pope is also a head of state. But for him to go to mass seems a little incongruous to me for someone who is obviously not a Christian.”said Olivier Marleix. “Emmanuel Macron will be present at mass as head of state, but will not participate”qualified the Élysée.
The MP denounces “hypocrisy” of the President of the Republic while he will present “a text on the end of life which offends all Catholics” but that he “hidden” For “don’t hurt the pope”.