Pope Francis on Friday formally invited Argentine President Javier Millei to visit the Vatican in February. The papal invitation was issued hours after Mr Millais also issued a formal invitation to Pope Francis to visit his homeland.
According to an Argentine newspaper La NaciónWhich Confirmed At the invitation of the Pope, Millais visited the Vatican. canonization Our Lady of Blessed St. Joseph Maria Antonia of Argentina, commonly referred to as “Mama Antura,” will soon be declared Argentina's first saint on February 11th. Millais and Pope Francis are scheduled to meet privately on the sidelines of the canonization.
The exchange of official invitations changes the dynamic between Millais and Pope Francis. Millais has been a public critic of the pope for years, even after beginning her career as a television personality and as a politician.
Milley, a libertarian economist, was widely known for her economic analysis, outspoken criticism of both socialism and communism, and her television appearances before running as an outsider presidential candidate in 2023.
In one of her TV appearances dated 2020, Millay criticized Pope Francis as a “social justice moron,” “the son of a son of a bitch who preaches communism,” and “the representative of the evil on earth.”
Harsh comments made by Millais at the time resurfaced during last year's presidential election.
File/A mural depicting Pope Francis depicts people waiting at a traffic light in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 30, 2023. (Thomas Cuesta/Getty Images)
Millay published very sorry Regarding his past statements, he maintained throughout the campaign that if elected president he would respect Pope Francis as the “head of the Catholic Church,” and described the Pope as the “spiritual leader” of the majority of Argentines. added that he would. If he decides to visit Argentina in 2024 as then-presidential candidate Mille, he will receive a welcome “befitting a head of state.”
Immediately after winning the presidential runoff election on November 19, Mr. Milley Confirmed He said he had a “pleasant” telephone conversation with Pope Francis, who congratulated him on his election victory and wished the president-elect the best of luck.
Millay said Pope Francis advised her to approach this new phase of her life with “wisdom and courage.” “I am not lacking courage, but I am gathering wisdom,” he replied, adding that he used the opportunity to assure Pope Francis that he would “receive him in Argentina with all the honors of a head of state and head of state.” Stated. It's a Catholic church. ”
Millay formally extended his invitation to the Pope in a letter signed Thursday, thanking Pope Francis for his advice and wishes for courage and wisdom. The conversation, he writes, “was also a gesture of encouragement, in addition to strengthening.” [his] Conviction that it is urgent to change reality [their] The country is working to ensure peace and prosperity through much-needed social and political reforms. ”
“His Holiness, we Argentines are experiencing times of hardship and hope. We observe all around us how poverty, with its different aspects and effects, affects half of our compatriots. “I am doing so,” Millay wrote. “Our economy is in crisis and we must take steps to avoid a social catastrophe with painful consequences.”
The letter continued:
Bearing in mind your advice to have wisdom and the necessary courage, in my first weeks in office I have announced a series of initiatives aimed at changing the situation in which the Argentine Republic has suffered for decades. has proposed government measures.
We recognize that these decisions have the potential to deepen inequalities, so we appreciate the cooperation of the Catholic Church, whose work in the social field is invaluable, to support our most vulnerable brethren. Protecting them is a top priority.
You probably know that you don't need an invitation to come to Argentina. At the risk of saying something unnecessary, our cities, states, and towns rely on you to convey their filial piety to you.
“We know that time is short, but we still hope that we can travel for the joy of all Argentineans,” the letter said.
“Usted bien sabe que no necesita invitación para venir a la Argentina. state… pic.twitter.com/MPjjpIZ3eL
— Officina del Presidente (@OPRArgentina) January 11, 2024
Millais is scheduled to visit the Vatican and have a private meeting with Pope Francis. preceded In December, he accepted an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and made an official visit to Jerusalem from February 5th to 9th.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
