Pope and Argentine President Milei embrace after pontiff canonizes Argentina’s first female saint

[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nnVATICAN CITY (AP) — 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.The ceremony to declare Mama Antula a saint marked the first meeting between the Argentine pope and Milei, who once called Francis an “imbecile” for defending social justice. The president, who was seated to Francis’ right on the side of the main altar throughout the ceremony, bent over and gave the pope a big bearhug when Francis was wheeled over to him at the end of the service.
“You cut your hair!” Francis quipped as he approached, in reference to Milei’s trademark unruly locks.
Mama Antula was an 18th century laywoman who ministered to the poor and helped keep Jesuit spirituality alive in Argentina after the religious order — to which the pope belongs — was suppressed.
Argentines flocked to the canonization, which turned into something of an Argentine fiesta in Rome. Milei waved to supporters in the pews as he entered and left the basilica and posed for selfie photos, as Argentines celebrated a saint who defied the norms for women of her time to spread the faith.
In his homily, Francis praised Mama Antula as …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]