Pope Francis meets people on the day of the weekly general audience at the Vatican, September 13, 2023.
Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Pope Francis' scheduled visit to France next week has stirred debate in the French political class, with left-wing politicians criticising the president for attending Mass while the far-right objects to the pope's positive views on immigration.
Macron's advisers said French leaders had attended Mass before, and there was "confusion" as to what secularism means.
"I disagree with Pope Francis," Marechal said on BFM TV on Thursday.
France, home to Europe's largest Muslim community, is regularly convulsed with debates on immigration.
Persons:
Pope Francis, Francis, Emmanuel Macron, Fabien Roussel, Macron, Marion Marechal, Marine Le, Marechal, doesn't, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Philip Pullella, David Gregorio Our
Organizations:
Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, French Communist, Thomson
Locations:
France, Marseille, France's, Republic, Europe, Paris, Rome