The Pope gives a nod to Miley as he welcomes us to the Vatican for an hour. international

The humiliation of the Pontiff, who knows because he never thought he would actually become President of his country, reached a level never seen before. “Representative of evil on earth”, “son of a bitch who preaches communism”, “nasty bastard”. These are just three examples of the belligerence that Argentina’s new President, Javier Meili, used to refer to Pope Francis long before he arrived at the Casa Rosada. This Monday, at nine in the morning, the top leader of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s native country, Miley, appeared at the Vatican and in a different tone and for the first time met the Pontiff for an hour: a time reserved for those meetings in which the Pope Has the most interest. In fact, he never devoted so much space to his meetings with the predecessors of current President Cristina Fernández Kirchner, Mauricio Macri or Alberto Fernández.

Francisco wanted to minimize the insult at the time and assured that these were things that are said in an election campaign. In political matters he is practical and dialogue-oriented. And even more so if they mention their homeland. In fact, one of the keys to the trip was the invitation that Miley planned to give Francisco to visit Argentina in the near future. The Pope had always left that possibility to the margins of his priorities, but recently his interest has increased. However, the statement issued by the Vatican did not provide any clues on the matter. “During cordial talks at the Secretariat of State, satisfaction was expressed at the good relations between the Holy See and the Argentine Republic and the desire to further strengthen them. Subsequently, he focused on the new government’s program to counter the economic crisis. “In continuation of the talks, a number of international issues were discussed, especially the current conflict and the commitment to peace between nations.”

Miley visited Francisco with her sister and General Secretary of the Presidency, Karina Miley; Chancellor, Deanna Mondino; Ministers of the Interior and Human Capital, Guillermo Franco and Sandra Pettovello, respectively; Rabbi Axel Vonish and Worship Secretary, Francisco Sanchez. The Argentine President arrived at the meeting a little early. Basically the reason is that he ordered the official car in which he was traveling to stop when it was traveling along the Via della Conciliazione to take photographs with some Argentine pilgrims. He devoted the necessary time to the tourists, who took a group picture, and then proceeded to enter the courtyard of San Damaso through the Santa Anna Gate, where those responsible for the protocol of the Holy See were waiting for him.

As planned, Francis welcomed them behind closed doors at the Apostolic Palace. As the president moved forward, among other issues on the table was a possible visit by the Pope to his native country, where he has not returned since his election at the 2013 conclave.

The Argentine President gave a folder with a copy of Chancellor José María Gutiérrez’s handwritten letter to Juan Bautista Alberdi accrediting the Pope as representative in Europe in 1854; A memorial postcard of Mama Antula (canonized on Sunday) and what perhaps piqued Francis’ most interest, given his love of sweets: dulce de leche alfajores and lemon cookies “from the Supreme Pontiff’s favorite brand,” The spokesperson highlighted. By Miley. The Argentine President arrived in Rome from Israel with his entourage last Friday. The President will also meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella this Monday.

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Miley and Pope had briefly seen each other the day before when they somehow put an end to the hostilities. The two congratulated and hugged each other after Argentina’s first saint, Mama Antula, was declared a saint. This gesture, including a kiss requested by Miley, was considered a thaw in relations between the two. This scene was not planned. Or, at least, the two were expected to be photographed during their official meeting this Monday. But once the eucharist ended in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the Pope was transferred in a wheelchair due to his knee problems to the place where politicians kneel, to his right, in the front row before mass. Were following. This was the moment Miley stood up to shake his hand and even hug him. Both of them laughed and talked lightly for some time. “You cut your hair!” Pope said to Miley. The President responded, “I took it too long.”

Miley’s attacks on the Pope were part of the general logic of the extreme right in the world. Since arriving in Rome, Francis has been one of the favorite targets of ultra-conservative currents of politics as well as the church. From former US President Donald Trump to League leader Matteo Salvini, they expressed contempt for the pontiff. Miley kept her tone high until September, when in an interview with controversial former Fox News host Tucker Carlson she said the Pope violated the 10 Commandments to protect social justice and is “in favor of a bloody dictatorship.”

After his election, they radically changed their approach and began addressing him as “Your Holiness”. The tones and insults stopped upon his arrival at the Casa Rosada last December and this Saturday he expressed on Radio Miter his desire to have a “very useful conversation” with the Pope, whom he now describes as “the most important Argentinian in history”. lets see. ,

Bergoglio, who was always extremely cautious in matters related to his native Argentina, never fell into the trap of attacks and did not downplay his views. In fact, he had called her last November to congratulate her on her victory. This Sunday, in addition to the last embrace, the two had planned a brief and formal meeting before Mass in the sacristy of St. Peter’s Basilica, about which no information has been released.

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