In a significant diplomatic and personal reconciliation, Argentina's President Javier Milei met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, marking a notable shift in their previously strained relationship. The meeting, which took place amid the canonization of Argentina's first female saint, Mama Antula, saw the two Argentine figures come together in a gesture of unity. Milei, who had previously criticized Pope Francis, labeling him an 'imbecile' and accusing him of promoting communism, brought pastries and chocolate biscuits as peace offerings. This visit follows Milei's trip to Israel and represents a significant step in mending fences with the pontiff, whom he had also derogatorily called a 'filthy leftist' and 'the devil's man on Earth.' The Vatican described their hourlong conversation as 'cordial,' highlighting a potential thaw in relations. This encounter comes after Milei's recent election and his subsequent shift in rhetoric, now praising Pope Francis as 'the most important' Argentine and receiving a warm reception. The meeting has sparked speculation about a possible visit by Pope Francis to Argentina, his homeland, later this year.
Despite their rocky start, Argentina's President Javier Milei and Pope Francis appeared to have hit it off as they held their first meeting Monday amid speculation that the Argentine pontiff might finally go home for a visit later this year. https://t.co/fsrd8gYyDJ
President Milei took a peace offering of chocolate biscuits to his first meeting with his fellow Argentinian Pope Francis on Monday after calling the pontiff an “imbecile” last year during his election campaign ⬇️ https://t.co/dWBCnAgwEb
After embrace, pope and Argentina's Milei meet amid speculation Francis might finally go home https://t.co/XTuUH1xNs3
Argentina president-elect Javier Milei meets the man he once called a "filthy leftist:" Pope Francis. https://t.co/3QNWhaYAbw
Pope Francis Meets Argentine President Javier Milei in Vatican https://t.co/g7v72KkBLE
Javier Milei, the recently elected president of Argentina, had a warm reception from the Pope, despite having made unfavourable comments about the pontiff during his election campaign. Read more: https://t.co/bRQvbx3hKf https://t.co/aM4gdemMbr
President Javier Milei of Argentina, who before taking office ridiculed Pope Francis, met with the pontiff on Monday for an hourlong conversation that the Vatican described as “cordial.” https://t.co/YWgNDZ95UE
For Javier Milei, Pope Francis used to be “the devil’s man on Earth.” But now the president praises the pontiff as “the most important” Argentine https://t.co/hkh9YmOfdx
PASTRIES AND BISCUITS AS ARGENTINA'S MILEI MAKES UP WITH POPE FRANCIS (Reuters) Argentina's President Javier Milei visited his compatriot Pope Francis in the Vatican on Monday, bearing pastries and gifts as he seeks to make up with the pontiff he had long dismissed and derided. https://t.co/6D2o0PRwYW
Pope Francis and Argentine President Milei hold encouraging meeting https://t.co/dfD2ZtCs51 https://t.co/3KPsbPtFcy
Pastries and biscuits as Argentina's Milei makes up with Pope Francis https://t.co/WPlQCgGPSL https://t.co/OXNksGEFeO
⚠️ PASTRIES AND BISCUITS AS ARGENTINA'S MILEI MAKES UP WITH POPE FRANCIS (Reuters) Argentina's President Javier Milei visited his compatriot Pope Francis in the Vatican on Monday, bearing pastries and gifts as he seeks to make up with the pontiff he had long dismissed and… https://t.co/SNSOmGwCSx
#WATCH 🔴 Argentina's President Javier #Milei met with Pope Francis, whom he had earlier labeled an 'imbecile' ego 'promoting communism', according to the BBC. https://t.co/D2SfuiHxeE
#WATCH 🔴 Argentina's President Javier #Milei met with Pope Francis, whom he had earlier labeled an 'imbecile' promoting communism, according to the BBC. https://t.co/y9WZg0hisR
Pope and Argentine President Milei embrace after pontiff canonizes Argentina’s first female saint https://t.co/x0isz0J798 https://t.co/g9cDS6oeqs
#PopeFrancis elevates to sainthood the first female saint from his native #Argentina, an event that brought to the Vatican his former vocal critic, Argentine President #JavierMilei. https://t.co/IhSTT9s004
Pope Francis and Argentine President Javier Milei embraced Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica, as Argentine faith and politics came together during a Mass to canonize the country's first female saint. https://t.co/WkcmwSixWI
Pope and Argentine President Milei embrace after pontiff canonizes Argentina's first female saint (from @AP) @nwinfield https://t.co/CvSo0xdfJo
Argentina has its first female saint: Pope Francis canonises "Mama Antula" in a ceremony in St Peter's Basilica. https://t.co/J6VgOmCfS9 https://t.co/MLwFY9iLSu
Argentina's far-Right President Javier Milei poses for selfies at the Vatican as Pope Francis canonises the country's first female saint Mama Antula https://t.co/YOQAUNXocm https://t.co/ikBWHbTDR7
🇦🇷🇻🇦 MILEI KISSES THE POPE After his trip to Israel, the Argentine President headed to the Vatican for a visit with the Pope. https://t.co/v4VtX6hBeb https://t.co/yc64HcrAIB
Argentina’s president-elect Javier Milei meets Pope Francis for the first time at the Vatican as the two compatriots mend fences https://t.co/J9DXySPFML
First female Argentine saint brings together Pope Francis and Milei https://t.co/4GTd6KYDv3 https://t.co/f6hJWbtaMG