Groupe Francophone

ucrdem

(15,512 posts) Sat Jan 25, 2014, 03:16 PM Jan 2014

Francis à François: "Qui suis-je, pour juger?"

Friday, via the UK's top tabloid:

Francois Hollande meets the Pope as Valerie Trierweiler prepares to make her 'last stand' as French First Lady with charity trip to India
By Hannah Roberts In Rome | UPDATED: 21:23 EST, 24 January 2014

French President Francois Hollande, left, is welcomed by Pope Francis on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican on Friday

In view of his much-publicised troubled love life, an audience with the Pope was probably the last thing Francois Hollande needed right now.

Heading out: Hollande arrives for his papal audience

Nevertheless, the somewhat sheepish French president fulfilled that obligation yesterday as it emerged that his estranged girlfriend Valerie Trierweiler is also determined to carry on with her duties.

Miss Trierweiler, recovering from an apparent drugs overdose after learning of Mr Hollande’s two-year affair with an actress, is keeping a charity commitment in India this weekend.

French President Francois Hollande, left, is welcomed by Pope Francis on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican on Friday

Her trip is being seen by some as her ‘last stand’ as First Lady. Mr Hollande, who visited Rome with the threat of a reprimand from Pope Francis over France’s decision to allow gay marriage also hanging over him, is believed to be considering leaving Miss Trierweiler for actress Julie Gayet, 41.

Despite the unfortunate timing, yesterday’s private meeting with the Pope passed off without any further embarrassment for Mr Hollande – with Francis even showing his lighter side by joking about their shared name.