Argentina's President Javier Milei and Pope Francis recently had a meeting that seemed to mark a positive turning point in their relationship. The hour and 10-minute meeting, much longer than usual for Francis, displayed a warm and friendly atmosphere between the two leaders. The Vatican even shared a video of Francis smiling and grasping Milei's arm as they walked together to his desk.
This meeting comes as speculations arise about the possibility of Pope Francis visiting Argentina later this year. The pontiff, who has not visited his home country since becoming pope in 2013, has expressed his desire to return. Milei, known for his libertarian views and promises of austerity measures to revive Argentina's economy, gave Francis some Argentine delicacies, including dulce de leche alfajor cookies and lemon biscuits. In return, the pope presented Milei with important documents of his papacy and a medallion.
The cordial tone between the two leaders was set the previous day when Milei embraced Francis with a bear hug at the end of a Mass in which Argentina's first female saint was declared. The pope jokingly commented on Milei's haircut, further signaling the friendly disposition between them.
However, it was not always this way. During his election campaign, Milei openly called the pope an 'imbecile' and referred to him as 'the representative of malignance on Earth.' Francis, who has also expressed concern about Argentina's economic crisis, appears to have forgiven Milei's previous remarks, understanding them as campaign rhetoric.
In an interview with Italy's Retequattro, Milei expressed a newfound understanding of the pope's significance to Argentina as the leader of the world's Catholics and as an important figure in the predominantly Catholic country. This realization led to a positive shift in their relationship. The president described himself as a Catholic who also practices Jewish rituals, highlighting his complex identity.
The possibility of a visit by Pope Francis to Argentina has been a long-awaited event for Argentines. Despite having visited neighboring countries during his pontificate, Francis has not returned to his homeland for over a decade. Milei extended an invitation to the pope, and even the country's bishops have been urging him to come home.
The Vatican's statement after the meeting did not mention a possible visit, focusing instead on Milei's subsequent meeting with the Vatican secretary of state. This meeting covered the government's program to counter the economic crisis and discussions on unspecified international conflicts.
Following the meeting with the pope, Milei met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella. Their discussions revolved around boosting economic ties in the energy, infrastructure, and agroalimentary industries. Milei's positive momentum continued with the news of two Argentine hostages, kidnapped by Hamas and freed by Israeli forces, adding to his reasons for contentment during his visit to Rome.
As the relationship between President Javier Milei and Pope Francis improves, the possibility of a papal visit to Argentina remains uncertain. However, for now, the two leaders have fostered a positive connection that signals a potential reconciliation between their ideological differences.
