Pope Francis meets new President of Argentina
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis
on Saturday morning received in audience the President of Argentina,
Mauricio Macri, who subsequently met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State,
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the
Secretary for Relations with States.
President Macri assumed
office in December, and was previously the Head of Government of the Autonomous
City of Buenos Aires from 2007 to 2015. Previously, he represented the
City of Buenos Aires in the lower house of Argentina’s Congress from 2005 to
2007. Pope Francis served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 until his
election to the see of Peter in 2013.
A statement released by the
Holy See Press Office called the meeting between the two men “cordial,” and
said this “demonstrated the good bilateral relations between the Holy See
and the Argentine Republic.”
The statement went on to say
themes of common interest were considered, such as assistance for
integral development, respect for human rights, the fight against poverty and
drug trafficking, justice, peace and social reconciliation.
In this context – the
statement continued - the positive contribution of the episcopate
and Catholic institutions in Argentine society was reiterated, especially
in the fields of human promotion and the formation of the new generations,
and particularly in the current economic climate. Finally, reference was made
to various issues of broader significance and interest at regional and
global level.
During the encounter,
President Macri gave Pope Francis several gifts, including a poncho, CD’s with
traditional Argentine music and tango, and a wooden Matara Cross, the symbol of
evangelization in Latin America.
Pope Francis gave the
President a Peace Medallion, with the symbol of an olive tree.
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