President de Gaulle - towards the end of his visit to Italy - was received in audience by the Pope, June 27. The Vatican accorded him honours normally reserved for a reigning sovereign, and the Vatican paper, 'Osservatore Romano' claimed that Charlemagne was the nearest parallel with de Gaulle.

At a service in St. John Lateran, June 58, General de Gaulle was to occupy the stall once reserved for the Kings of France as members of the cathedral chapter.

During the audience with the Pope, in the little throne room o the Vatican Palace, gifts were exchanged, the President paying homage as the representative of the country described as "the eldest daughter of the church".