The Élysée Palace announced that French President Emmanuel Macron would attend a mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV in Metz on Monday afternoon. This decision has sparked discussions about the principle of laïcité, or secularism, which is a cornerstone of the French Republic. The topic was recently explored on the LCP program Chaque voix compte on September 24, where deputy Alexis Corbière (Écologiste et social) revisited his proposal to prohibit elected officials from participating in religious ceremonies. Corbière argued that laïcité must be consistent and not subject to change, stating that elected officials should not attend religious ceremonies. He emphasized, "I do not want an elected official, ès-qualités, to appear at religious ceremonies (...) What I do not like is electoral flirting." Corbière, co-founder of the publication L'Après, had previously supported an amendment in 2021 during the examination of the "conforting the respect of the principles of the Republic" bill. This amendment aimed to ban elected officials from attending religious events. Corbière also criticized the choice of the Place de la Concorde, a highly symbolic republican site, for the Pope's first mass in France on Saturday. He described the decision as a "symbolic and political fault" and expressed disappointment at the "ostentation of a series of people" attending religious services. In an article published in Libération on September 21, he argued that elected officials should exemplify neutrality, though he acknowledged that attending certain "exceptional ceremonies," such as religious services commemorating victims of terrorism or genocide, could still be acceptable. Despite Corbière's efforts, his amendment was ultimately rejected, even by some deputies from the left of the political spectrum. The debate continues over the balance between respecting religious practices and maintaining strict secular principles in public life.