Consequently, he moved towards the liberal opposition, both as a Peer and as a contributor to "Journal des Débats" (his articles there gave the signal of the paper's similar switch, which, however, was more moderate than "Le National", directed by Adolphe Thiers and Armand Carrel). Opposing Villèle, he became highly popular as a defender of press freedom and the cause of Greek independence. After Villèle's downfall, Charles X appointed Chateaubriand ambassador to the Holy See in 1828, but he resigned upon the accession of the Prince de Polignac as premier (November 1829).