©Reuters. File photo: Argentine Catholics celebrate the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate during a Mass at the Luján Cathedral in Luján, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, March 11, 2023.REUTERS/Thomas Cuesta/File photo
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Alvise Armerini
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis canonized the first female saint in his native Argentina on Sunday, prompting a visit to the Vatican from Argentine President Javier Millei, a former fierce critic of the pope.
Francis led the canonization Mass of Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa in St. Peter’s Basilica. María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, better known as “Mama Antura”, was an 18th century consecrated lay woman dedicated to her charity work and Jesuit spiritual practice. gave up her family’s wealth for the sake of
Millais sat in the front row of the service and exchanged a few words with the pope at the end of the service, shaking hands and hugging. The president is scheduled to have a private audience with President Francis on Monday.
The ceremony comes at a time when Argentina is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with inflation exceeding 200%, and the newly appointed Millei has fallen on hard times after major reforms were rejected in Congress. It was held in the midst of
Milley, an unorthodox right-wing liberal, used strong language to insult Francisco before running for president, but softened her tone after taking office in December.
Millay told Radio Mitel on Saturday that the pope was “the most important Argentine in history.”
In an Argentine radio interview, Millais said he was looking forward to a “very fruitful dialogue” with Francis and hoped the 87-year-old pontiff’s health was good enough to travel to Argentina. Stated.
Former Buenos Aires Archbishop Francis, who has not visited his homeland since becoming pope in 2013 and has angered some of his compatriots, said he may finally visit in the second half of this year.
“A gift to the people of Argentina”
Mama Antura was the daughter of a wealthy landowner and slave owner.
Despite the Jesuits being expelled from Latin America at the time, she encouraged spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, walked thousands of kilometers barefoot, and invited rich and poor people to join her in these efforts. .
Francis, himself a Jesuit, described her on Friday as “a gift to the Argentine people and to the entire Church.”
Quoting from his previous writings, the pope denounced the “radical individualism” that pervades society as a “virus,” words that may run counter to Millais’ radical free-market instincts.
In his Sunday sermon, he returned to the issue of caring for the poor and outcasts, saying that “fear, prejudice and false religion” are leading people to “great injustice” in ignoring the plight of the weak. said.
