French presidents have maintained varied relationships with the popes over the years, reflecting both political and religious considerations. General Charles de Gaulle, one of France's most iconic leaders, made his first foreign trip as president to the Vatican in 1959. During that visit, he knelt before Pope John XXIII, a gesture that underscored the significance of the Catholic Church in French society at the time. His successor, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, visited the Vatican twice, including in 1978 when he met Pope John Paul II shortly after the latter's election. This meeting marked the beginning of a more frequent dialogue between French leaders and the papacy. Pope John Paul II, who became the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years, made his first official visit to France under the Fifth Republic in 1980. During his papacy, he traveled to France eight times, with Jacques Chirac hosting him most frequently. This relationship was notable for its warmth and frequency, highlighting the pope's strong ties with France. In contrast, François Mitterrand, France's first socialist president, did not make any official trips to the Vatican during his two seven-year terms, though he did visit once as a private citizen. The relationship between French leaders and the papacy has evolved with changing political landscapes. Nicolas Sarkozy had more political exchanges with Pope Benedict XVI, who made only one official trip to France in 2008, accompanied by Sarkozy. The meeting was polite, but the exchanges were more focused on political matters than religious ones. François Hollande's relationship with Pope Francis, however, was more tense, particularly following the adoption of the law on same-sex marriage in France, which the Vatican opposed. Under President Emmanuel Macron, the relationship with Pope Francis has seen an improvement. The pope has received Macron twice for thematic visits, including one in Marseille, where the pope positioned himself as a defender of migrants. These visits reflect a more collaborative and modern approach to the relationship between France and the Vatican, emphasizing shared values and global issues.