Emmanuel Macron has been accused of trying to "choose the next pope", with right-wing newspapers in Italy alleging the French president is attempting to manoeuvre behind the scenes ahead of the conclave on May 7. The row erupted after reports of two private meetings involving Mr Macron and key Vatican figures, prompting claims of “interventionism worthy of a modern Sun King”, in a reference to former French monarch Louis XIV.

The French president on April 26 hosted a lunch at the French embassy in Rome with four of the five French cardinal electors, including Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, widely seen as a potential frontrunner. The following evening, Mr Macron was spotted dining at a restaurant in Piazza del Popolo with Andrea Riccardi, founder of the influential Sant’Egidio Catholic movement. The group, known for its ties to the late Pope Francis and progressive positions on issues such as immigration, has longstanding links with Mr Macron — and has become a lightning rod for conservative critics in Italy.

La Verità, a daily newspaper close to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, said: “It’s not enough for him to lecture Europe.

“Macron even wants to choose the pope.”

Libero described the meetings as “Macron crashing the conclave,” while Il Tempo said his behaviour recalled the excesses of Louis XIV.

While no official Vatican comment has been made, the speculation has zeroed in on candidates said to align with the French president’s world view — including Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

Like Mr Riccardi, he is connected to Sant’Egidio and viewed with suspicion by Meloni allies due to his stance on migration and social policy.

A source from Sant’Egidio dismissed the claims, insisting: “Emmanuel Macron seeks to understand the process, not to influence it.”

Liberal daily Il Foglio also mocked the allegations, describing them as a “big plot” conjured up by nationalist elements within Italy’s ruling coalition.

However, with tensions between Mr Macron and Ms Meloni already running high, the story is gaining traction.

Their first meeting, in October 2022, shortly after her election victory, was marked by visible discomfort and a terse handshake. The pair have clashed repeatedly on migration, defence and European integration.

Against that backdrop, Mr Macron’s involvement in any Vatican-related discussions is being interpreted in Rome as part of a broader power play — an attempt, his critics argue, to regain influence on the international stage by shaping the future direction of the Catholic Church.

As speculation intensifies ahead of the conclave, the prospect of a foreign head of state trying to sway the outcome — however unlikely — appears to have touched a nerve.

For many in Rome, especially those on the right, the idea that "Macron wants to choose the pope” has become a rallying cry in a much wider contest over values, sovereignty and the identity of modern Europe.