Pope Francis met for the first time today at the Vatican with the President of Argentina Javier Miley, for an hour and gave him dulce de leche alfajores and lemon cookies.

The closed meeting began at 9:00 and ended at 10:00. This was followed by a greeting to the delegation and presentation of gifts. The Vatican reported this.

Miley arrived at 8:58 a.m. at the Patio de San Damaso, which gives access to the Apostolic Palace, a few minutes late as his arrival was scheduled for 8:45 a.m., having stopped in front of the Argentine Embassy on his way to a meeting. to take pictures with compatriots.

After this, the Argentine delegation held a meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

The President presented the Pontiff with a copy of the Chancellor’s handwritten letter Jose Maria Gutierrez – Juan Bautista Alberdi in honor of his representative in Europe, dated May 1854, a painting depicting a commemorative card of the first Argentine saint, Mama Antula, who was canonized this Sunday and which the Argentine Post newspaper distributed on the occasion of her beatification.

And Dulce de leche alfajores and lemon cookies about the pontiff’s preferred brand, as Milea’s representative Manuel Adorni clarified on his X account.

For his part, the Argentine Pontiff presented Mileya, as he usually does to everyone who visits him, his message of peace this year, some of his compositions and a bronze medallion with a cross and a dove, inspired by the canopy of St. Peter’s Basilica, created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, “and which symbolizes the harmony between the sacred and the divine, connecting the heavens.” and the earth.”

Upon his arrival, Miley was received by the head of the prefecture of the Papal Court, Leonardo Sapienza, and “gentlemen” who accompanied him on a tour of the impressive frescoed corridors until he reached the Second Lodge, where the library of the Papal Apartment was located, the place where audiences were held.

The President is accompanied by his sister and Secretary General of the Presidium Karina Miley; his foreign minister, Diana Mondino; Interior Minister Guillermo Francos; from Human Capital – Sandra Pettovello; Minister of Religion Francisco Sanchez and Ambassador to Israel Rabbi Axel Wanish, who will join at the end of the meeting for greetings.

This Sunday, Miley attended the canonization mass of Maria José de Paz y Figueroa, better known as Mama Antula, and there she was able to greet Pope Francis for the first time since the then presidential candidate was considered pontiff. “representative of the evil one on earth” and a supporter of “bloody dictatorships.”

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During this meeting, Miley tenderly hugged the Pope and asked to kiss him, and the Argentine Pontiff jokingly exclaimed: “You had a haircut!”, between both of them laughing. “I ruined everything,” the president responded, taking his hands and laughing, as heard on video of the meeting.

(EFE)