Historic Encounter: Pope and Milei Unite as Argentina Welcomes First Female Saint

Argentina's first female saint has been canonised, bringing Pope Francis and the country's president together for the first time. President Javier Milei, who previously criticised the Pope, joined him at the Vatican for the Mass and will have a private audience with him on Monday. The newly canonised saint, Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, also known as Mama Antula, was an 18th-Century laywoman who renounced her wealth to help the poor and support the Jesuit movement. The meeting between the leaders comes during a time of political uncertainty in Argentina, with high inflation and poverty rates. President Milei's economic policies have led to protests, but he believes the country needs drastic economic measures to solve its crisis. The new president had invited the Pope to visit Argentina in 2024, but the pontiff has not returned to his home country since assuming office in 2013.