Javier Milei left St. Peter's Basilica excitedly,
where he attended the canonization ceremony of Mama Antula led by Pope Francis, with whom
he had two brief meetings outside of protocol: the last one, at the end of the mass, ended with a warm hug.
"
It was very strong, a tremendous gesture.
I can't believe it, he broke protocol and came to greet me. It's impossible for me not to be moved,"
a still moved Milei recounted, according to what
Clarín
was able to reconstruct from unobjectionable sources, when he was leaving. The Vatican with the official delegation.
Milei and the Pope had greeted each other before the ceremony.
Upon arriving at the basilica, he was invited by the authorities to approach a reserved place where he had a brief but warm greeting with his host.
He was accompanied by Chancellor Diana Mondino and the Secretary General of the Presidency, his sister Karina Milei, who was dressed according to protocol.
Those who witnessed both meetings up close say that
there was "very good harmony"
and say that there was even a moment of special relaxation and laughter when
the Pope thanked him "for coming" to Rome and witnessing the ceremony
.
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The Supreme Pontiff also greeted Guillermo Francos, Jorge Macri and the rest of the Argentine delegation that traveled to the Vatican.
Furthermore, in a joking tone, Francisco made reference to the neat look that the President chose to go to the Vatican, after a tour in which he was informal:
"I really appreciate that you have combed your hair to come."
They say that
Milei celebrated the mention and thanked him "for having me."
They are scheduled to
meet again on Monday, but in a private audience
in which they will have time to discuss the situation in Argentina.
Milei followed the canonization of Mama Antula
from the front row of the central nave of St. Peter's Basilica
, which was filled with about 5,500 people, many of them Argentinians.
Before the ceremony,
she agreed to take numerous selfies
with the faithful.
During the mass, the President followed the rituals and
his expressions of emotion were seen.
Among the prayers read
by one of the Pope's assistants,
there was one with strong political content that seemed dedicated above all to the current situation in Argentina
, with high tension between the Government and the opposition after the fall of the Omnibus Law.
"Let us pray for the heads of the nations," the reading began.
And he stated: "May God, lover of peace,
inspire our rulers with the wisdom of dialogue and the will to contribute to the common good, overcoming what divides and seeking what unites
."
News in development.