Emmanuel Macron said he does not 'totally adhere' to Eurocrats explaining the words 'people can and can't use' just a week after Brussels withdrew its controversial guidelines for inclusive communication.

The document details were leaked last week and led to a furious backlash with many accusing the EU of trying to 'cancel Christmas' after telling staff to avoid the word in favour of 'holiday period' because it could be offensive to non-Christians.

Politicians from Italy - where the story first emerged - accused the EU of waging a war on 'common sense' while the Vatican accused Brussels of trying to 'cancel' Europe's Christian roots.

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"Christianity is deeply rooted in Europe - in our daily actions, we perceive their origin in Christian values," Ursula von der Leyen, a non-practising Lutheran, said in a Vatican Radio interview.

"When we speak of peace, of the dignity of the person, of the rule of law, of solidarity - or to put in slightly more ancient terms, of mercy - the Christian roots are perceived, as well as the depth with which they are intertwined in our age. In our daily arguments, Christianity and the values on which it rests play an important role."

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