Temple-to-Temple Bumps Supplant Classic ‘Bises’
France’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, is already making a splash not on policy, but for greeting co-workers in an unorthodox manner. The 39-year-old Lecornu has been seen exchanging soft temple-to-temple bumps, predominantly with male co-workers, rather than the classic French cheek greeting ‘bises’.
The ritual, which echoes gestures at Saint-Wandrille Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Normandy, has fascinated the public and media. Lecornu’s method has even prompted some journalists to look back at his adolescence, when he briefly thought of becoming a monk.
French media outlets such as Le Monde report that the forehead-to-forehead hello by Lecornu is a result of his experience at Saint-Wandrille Abbey, a Benedictine contemplative abbey with roughly 30 members. In a 2024 television interview, the prime minister confirmed that at 16, he considered monastic life.
“I experienced a time of discernment, a very private moment in my teenage years,” Lecornu said, but he refused to elaborate, citing his role as a state representative. The temple-to-temple greeting, referred to as an “accolade” by members of the monastery, is an old gesture of peace and respect, frequently practiced in forms among Catholic priests during Mass.
Jean-Louis Langlois, a civilian volunteer at the Abbey, called the gesture “a very beautiful way to exchange a sign of peace,” pointing out the side-to-side tilt of the head and away from actual contact.
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A Gesture of Respect or Quirk?
Whereas Lecornu employed the traditional two-cheek kissing greeting for female colleagues, male officials like outgoing Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and presidential adviser Patrice Faure were subjected to the forehead bumps at initial meetings in Matignon, the Prime Minister’s headquarters. The ritual has raised interest and slight amusement among staff and observers.
Lecornu’s unique greeting highlights a personal touch in an otherwise formal political environment. It reflects his discreet nature, blending personal history with professional decorum, while reminding the public of the Prime Minister’s distinctive, human side amid the often rigid routines of government.
As Lecornu sets out to name his cabinet, everyone is wondering if this unusual welcome will become a hallmark of his style in office or just a charming aside in French political history.
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