PARIS - As the French public gets accustomed to their new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, who was notably low-key before assuming one of the country's top positions, they are uncovering a peculiar habit of his: he prefers to greet his colleagues with gentle head-butts. Unlike the traditional French greeting of two or more kisses on the cheeks, the 39-year-old former defense minister has been observed initiating a unique greeting style involving temple-to-temple bumps with male colleagues.
This unconventional manner of greeting has sparked conversation across French media outlets, which have taken a deeper look into Lecornu’s past, particularly his time before entering politics. Reports have surfaced indicating that his affinity for this distinctive greeting, which he performs primarily with men but occasionally with women, derives from experiences at the Saint-Wandrille Abbey in Normandy. This abbey is home to a community of around 30 Benedictine monks.
Despite his naturally discreet demeanor, Lecornu has acknowledged, albeit with reluctance, that he contemplated joining the Benedictines during his teenage years. In an interview on France's "Quelle époque!" chat show in 2024, he confirmed the authenticity of this aspect of his youth. The host, Léa Salamé, pointed out that the monks greet one another with a forehead-to-forehead contact, prompting Lecornu to admit that this and other elements drew him into a period of discernment when he was 16. However, he expressed a desire for privacy regarding these reflections, emphasizing the neutrality of his role as a minister and his firm advocacy for secularism in France.
The Benedictines represent the most ancient religious order within the Latin rite Catholic Church, dating back to 529 AD. Their monastic lifestyle is governed by the Rule of St. Benedict. Additionally, variations of the temple-to-temple greeting are commonplace among Catholic priests, especially during the exchange of peace at Mass. This modified greeting serves to avoid direct contact while maintaining a semblance of warmth.
Upon taking office on a Wednesday, Lecornu greeted his government colleagues at Matignon, the official residence of the French Prime Minister, with traditional two-cheeked "bises" for female colleagues, including Catherine Vautrin and Rachida Dati, both prominent figures in the previous government. In contrast, his male counterparts, including the outgoing Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, received soft temple-to-temple bumps, a detail that highlights his distinct approach to camaraderie within the political sphere. He also extended this greeting to senior presidential aide Patrice Faure during a meeting later that evening.
Jean-Louis Langlois, a civilian volunteer at Saint-Wandrille Abbey, explained the significance of the temple-to-temple contact, which is referred to as an accolade. He described it as a beautiful gesture that involves tilting the head to the right so that the temples touch during a moment of exchanging peace. No meeting between Lecornu and Langlois has occurred yet, but Langlois expressed appreciation for the gesture that has seemingly found its way into the political greeting customs of France.
