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After embrace, pope and Argentina's Milei meet amid speculation Francis might finally go home
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In this image distributed by Vatican Media, Argentine President Javier Milei, left, cheers at Pope Francis as they meet in the pontiff's studio at The Vatican for a private audience, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Milei, who will meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni later in the day, attended the canonization of the first Argentine female saint, María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa also known as "Mama Antula" in St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday. - photo by Vatican Media via AP, HO
ROME (AP) — Despite their rocky start, Argentina's President Javier Milei and Pope Francis appeared to have hit it off as they held their first meeting Monday amid speculation that the Argentine pontiff might finally go home for a visit later this year. The Vatican said the two men met for an hour and 10 minutes, an unusually long audience by Francis’ standards, especially given no translation was required. Vatican video showed a smiling Francis briefly grasping Milei's arm for support as they walked to his desk at the start of their meeting.