French President Emmanuel Macron is facing accusations from conservative Italian media outlets of attempting to sway the upcoming papal conclave in favor of a French candidate, in a bid to restore France's influence at the Vatican.

The claims emerged following a series of meetings Macron held in Rome with key figures ahead of the May 7 conclave to choose a successor to the late Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21.

According to Italian daily Il Tempo, Macron met with four out of five French cardinal electors during a private lunch last Saturday, including Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, who is widely seen as a potential papal contender. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Pope's funeral.

Macron also reportedly had dinner on Friday with Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio, a prominent Catholic lay organization with over 70,000 members across 74 countries. The group is believed to have considerable influence over several cardinal electors.

'A new Sun King'

Il Tempo claimed the French president "asked the cardinals about ways to build a consensus around Aveline," describing the Marseille archbishop as "an ultra-European, anti-sovereignist" and "one of the most liberal" figures in the College of Cardinals. The paper described Macron's approach as "interventionism worthy of a new Sun King," referencing Louis XIV's historic efforts to manipulate papal succession through French influence.

Another outlet, La Verità, directly accused Macron of "seeking to choose the next Pope."

Neither the Élysée Palace nor Macron's office has publicly addressed the claims. However, the Community of Sant'Egidio denied the allegations in a statement to Le Monde, saying that Macron "seeks to understand the process, not influence it."

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French newspaper Le Monde dismissed the reports as "rumors" fueled by longstanding tension between French and Italian media, noting the mutual suspicion between Paris and Rome. Conservative Italian publications linked Macron's alleged actions to a broader effort to restore French standing at the Vatican, suggesting relations had cooled under Pope Francis' tenure.

The conclave, comprising 135 cardinals, will convene at the Vatican on May 7 to select the next head of the Catholic Church.

Vatican lobbying tense

80% of the cardinals eligible to vote were appointed by Pope Francis over the past 12 years, including 20 who were made cardinals just last December.

Many have only recently met after arriving in Rome following the pope’s passing, with the conclave being further complicated by the broad geographic diversity among the electors.

Historically, few frontrunners have secured the papacy, as seen in 2013 when Jorge Mario Bergoglio, not initially considered a favorite, emerged as Pope Francis. Vatican analysts have identified more than 20 potential papal candidates, known as Papabile, though discreet discussions are expected to continue until formal voting begins.

Francis’s appointments have significantly altered the composition of the College of Cardinals. Europeans, who once held a majority, now make up 39% of the body. Asian and Latin American/Caribbean cardinals each represent 18%, while sub-Saharan African cardinals account for 12%.

The pope prioritized inclusivity, elevating leaders from smaller Catholic communities in Algeria, Iran, and Mongolia. Notably, in December, he appointed seven cardinals under the age of 60, including 44-year-old Mykola Bychok from Melbourne.