It has been announced that President Milei will be received in audience by Pope Francis on February 12, on the occasion of the canonization of “Mama Antula”, the first Argentine saint.
This is auspicious news, since it represents the overcoming of annoying situations that had preceded it.
It seems appropriate to evoke the importance of the role that relations between Argentina and the Holy See have and, in that context, our Embassy to the Holy See and the Secretariat of Worship in our Chancellery.
The Catholic Church has occupied, throughout its long history, an original place in the dynamic flow of international relations.
Its headquarters are located on the Vatican Hill in Rome.
The diplomatic representations of the countries converge there, the vast majority of which maintain diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
It is known that the great religions have played and play an important role in the world.
History records moments in which they were instrumentalized at the service of political interests that gave rise to conflicts and even wars.
But its irreplaceable potential for influence in favor of harmony and peace is undeniable.
Argentina and Chile, in particular, can attest to the courage and generosity of Saint John Paul II in the mediation that consolidated the fraternal relationship between Argentina and Chile.
Since the pontificate of Saint John XXIII, at the beginning of each year the popes receive greetings from the ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, before whom they deliver a speech in which the vision and doctrine of the Church on international relations in the different regions, ongoing conflicts and tensions, international migrations, poverty, hunger, development, the validity of human rights, religious freedom and everything that affects justice and peace in the world.
Embassies, then, fulfill an interpretive and informative function regarding the role of the Holy See on a global level.
Added to this are the tasks inherent to a bilateral relationship between the country itself and the Holy See, its usual interlocutors being the senior officials of the Secretariat of State.
In parallel, the apostolic nuncios in the respective capitals usually do so with the authorities of the chancelleries of each country, particularly with the ministries or departments in charge of religious relations.
In our case, the Secretariat of Worship within the Chancellery.
Frequently, bilateral relations are consolidated and systematized through the signing of bilateral agreements or concordats, linked to the action of the Church in the country's territory.
Throughout its ancient history, there are not even fifteen countries that have been able to offer the Catholic Church one of its sons as Pope.
Since 2013, Argentina is one of them.
However, a good part of the political leadership in our country seems to have not known how to evaluate and take advantage of the meaning, the international political significance and the beneficial consequences that could have derived from it for Argentina.
Until this moment, during Francis' pontificate, Argentina had three citizens with no prior diplomatic experience and two professional ambassadors accredited as its ambassadors to the Holy See.
Of these two, one who had a vast professional qualification as a senior official in the Foreign Ministry and head of embassies in countries of great importance for Argentina, and another who for the first time found himself with a head of mission.
At this time, the press reports the names of different citizens who, despite lacking diplomatic experience or professionalism, would aspire to become the owner of our embassy to the Holy See.
Also, it is fair to point out, names of prestigious and qualified career diplomats have even been mentioned for the position.
At the same time, the situation of the Secretariat of Worship was the subject of speculation in the press.
Finally, the appointment of a citizen was announced who had to begin his administration by expressing his regret for various public statements made by him in the past, clearly contradictory with common sense and in particular with the functions that the new national authorities entrusted to him.
Also in this case, the qualified professional personnel of the permanent body of the Foreign Service of the Nation could have been used with diligence, benefit and lower cost in salaries.
We Argentines want and need to enjoy the immense joy of receiving Pope Francis' visit to our homeland.
The political leadership in general, and the State authorities in particular, must provide the appropriate framework for the long-awaited visit to take place.
Vicente Espeche Gil is a retired ambassador. He was ambassador to Israel.