Argentine President Javier Milei Cancels Trip to Rome
Argentine President Javier Milei was set to meet Pope Leo XIV in Rome soon but has decided to cancel his trip. Originally, he was slated to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new pope on May 18 at St. Peter’s Square. However, due to scheduling conflicts, Milei will not be able to make it. Instead, Argentina will be represented by Foreign Minister Gerald Wasain and Sandra Petvello.
The cancellation stems from the need for Milei to be present in Argentina for local legislative elections happening the same day, which would prevent him from voting. His friend, Manuel Adorni, is one of the candidates running for a parliamentary seat. “He supports Manuel and stays because he is his friend,” noted a local newspaper, highlighting that his schedule didn’t allow for the Rome trip.
Milei plans to have a personal meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in June. On July 10, he is expected to arrive in Israel, where he has scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, along with a speech to the Israeli parliament. Reports also indicate that he intends to meet with Argentine families still held hostage by Hamas.
Interestingly, while Milei was raised in the Catholic faith, he has publicly studied Judaism. He was among the most enthusiastic supporters of Pope Leo XIV, who was recently appointed. Following the announcement of the new pope, Milei shared an image of a lion as a mascot associated with his political movement.
In addition to the recent shift in papal leadership, Milei’s relationship with former Pope Francis has been notably complicated. He had previously criticized Francis harshly, calling him a socialist and a representative of evil. In 2020, Milei described aspirations for social justice as theft, indicating his strong opposition to the former pope’s positions.
However, in a recent about-face, Milei has apologized for his past remarks, acknowledging the significance of Francis in Argentine culture. He noted that he sought forgiveness from Francis during his tenure, indicating the importance of maintaining respect for the Catholic Church in a nation where it holds considerable influence.
Milei reflected on his previous criticisms during an interview, affirming that becoming president helped him appreciate the weight of Francis’ leadership. He reiterated his commitment to working for the welfare of Argentina’s poor, echoing the sentiments expressed by the late pope.
