Pope Francis entered St. Peter's Basilica, where this morning at the Altar of Confession he presides over the mass and the canonization rite of the first Argentine saint, Maria Antonia di San Giuseppe de Paz y Figueroa (1730-1799), a consecrated laywoman better known as 'Mama Antula', founder of the house of spiritual exercises in Buenos Aires.
Before the mass, in the Sacristy of the Basilica, the Pope will greet the Argentine President Javier Milei, who is leading the official delegation of his country at this morning's ceremony.
This is the first meeting between the two after Milei's election to the Casa Rosada.
Accompanying the head of state, who will be received in audience by the Pontiff at the Vatican Apostolic Palace tomorrow morning, are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Diana Mondino, the Minister of the Interior Guillermo Francos, the Minister of Human Capital, Sandra Pettovello, the general secretary of Presidency, Karina Milei, sister of the president, the secretary for Worship, Francisco Sánchez, and Rabbi Axel Wahnish, designated as the new ambassador of Argentina to Israel.
275 cardinals, bishops and priests concelebrated this morning's mass with the Pope in a packed Vatican Basilica.
Among them the concelebrants of the postulation, Jorge García Cuerva and Vicente Bokalic Iglic.
Also present was the postulator of the cause of canonization of 'Mama Antula', lawyer Silvia Correale.
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