NNA – Argentine President Javier Milei, and Argentine Pope Francis met in Rome for the first time on Sunday, while their country is witnessing economic collapse, according to Agence France-Presse.
The two men, who have sharply different views on how to eradicate Argentina#39;s poverty, met briefly before and after Sunday Mass, as part of Milei#39;s first visit to Rome since assuming his presidential duties.
Milei, who previously described Pope Francis as an quot;idiotquot; and quot;promoter of communism,quot; attended the canonization ceremony for Mother Antola, the first saint from Argentina, in St. Peter#39;s Basilica in the Vatican.
After Mass, Francis, in his wheelchair, stopped briefly to shake hands and exchange a few words with Milei, who hugged him.
An official meeting is scheduled to be held between them on Monday. Mileinbsp;intends to meet on the same day with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The meeting between the two men comes amid a state of great political uncertainty in Argentina, as Mileinbsp;published a presidential decree that led to major chaos in the Argentine economy.
Mileinbsp;and Pope Francis differ radically on how to address poverty, which affects 40% of the Argentine population, where inflation exceeds 200%.
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