Pope Francis has left behind the insults that Javier Milei directed at him before arriving at the Casa Rosada when he received the new Argentine president this morning in his first private audience at the Apostolic Palace. The Pontiff dedicated an hour to his compatriot, a much longer time than the meetings between the leader of the Catholic Church and the heads of Government usually last, especially taking into account that they did not need a translator.
Milei has left satisfied with a “very good and very friendly” audience, according to what Vatican sources told the newspaper La Nación. Among the gifts that the president brought to the Argentine pope were typical sweets from his country, such as lemon cookies and dark chocolate alfajores from the Pontiff’s favorite brand. In addition, he has delivered a copy of the handwritten letter from Chancellor José María Gutiérrez to Juan Bautista Alberdi accrediting him as representative in Europe, dated May 1854; and a painting with the image of the commemorative postcard of the first Argentine saint, Mama Antula, was canonized this Sunday and which the Argentine Postal Service distributed on the occasion of her beatification.
For his part, the Pope has reciprocated him with some of his writings and a bronze medallion with a cross and a dove inspired by the baldachin of St. Peter’s Basilica made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which symbolizes “the harmony between the sacred and the divine, uniting heaven and earth.” The president arrived somewhat late because he stopped to greet some Argentine citizens in front of the embassy to the Holy See. Later, he met the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.
According to a statement from the Vatican press office, during the meeting they spoke about the “good relations” between the Holy See and Argentina and the desire to strengthen them. Francisco has also been interested in the program of his country’s new Government to combat the economic crisis. In addition, both have discussed some international challenges, particularly about wars and the commitment to peace between nations.
With this meeting the Pope and Milei have sealed peace after the multiple disqualifications that the far-right dedicated to Jorge Mario Bergoglio before winning the elections in November of last year. Milei had called Francis an “imbecile”, “representative of evil on Earth” or “left-handed son of a bitch who goes around preaching communism”, but he changed his tone when the Pope called him by surprise to congratulate him on his electoral victory and went on to consider him “the most important Argentine in history.”
The new stage was staged this Sunday with a hug between the two after a brief greeting at the end of the canonization mass of Mama Antula, when Milei took the opportunity to break the ice. “You cut your hair!” commented Jorge Mario Bergoglio. “I made it long,” responded the Argentine president, laughing and taking his hands. He then bent down to hug the Pope, who has been using a wheelchair for some time to get around due to his knee problems.
Milei, who is in Rome after his visit to Israel, will also meet this Monday with the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella; and with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who during a television intervention highlighted her “fascinating personality.” The leader of the Brothers of Italy, who boasted of having been the first European leader with whom Milei had spoken after winning the elections, will receive him at 4 p.m. at Palazzo Chigi, the headquarters of the Italian Executive.
