Pope Léon XIV is currently visiting France, where he will meet with President Emmanuel Macron at several locations, including the Élysée Palace, Orly Airport, and the city of Metz. However, the pontiff has opted not to participate in a state dinner or receive the Legion of Honour, France's highest civilian honor. According to the Catholic news journal La Croix, the Vatican reportedly declined a suggestion for a private meeting between the pope and Macron at Notre-Dame de Paris. The Vatican's Secretary of State explained in the same publication that the pope's schedule is packed and that the cathedral should be returned to the faithful as soon as possible after evening prayer services. Some media reports have suggested that political factors, such as France's recent end-of-life care legislation, may have influenced the Vatican's decision to avoid certain formalities. However, Macron's team has denied these claims, stating that there was communication between the French presidency and Vatican representatives, and that decisions were made after considering various options. The Élysée Palace described the situation as an "unnecessary controversy" based on "nothing." The Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) has supported the Vatican's position, emphasizing that the pope is primarily welcomed in his role as the head of the Church, not as a head of state. The CEF noted that such papal visits follow a specific format, which typically does not include state dinners or the awarding of decorations. Despite these formalities being omitted, Pope Léon XIV will still meet with Macron multiple times during his four-day visit to France, ensuring continued diplomatic and religious engagement between the two leaders.