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Pope canonizes Argentina's first female saint as the country's libertarian president Milei looks on
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From left, Argentine Secretary-General of the Presidency Karina Milei, Argentine President Javier Milei, both crossing themselves, Interior Minister Guillermo Francos, and Minister of Human Capital Sandra Pettovello attend in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, the canonization of new Argentine Saint, María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa also known as "Mama Antula" presided over by Pope Francis. - photo by AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Argentina’s faith and politics came together Sunday as Pope Francis canonized the country’s first female saint with Argentina's libertarian president, Javier Milei, sitting in the front row of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Mass to declare Mama Antula a saint marked the first meeting between the Argentine pope and Milei, who once called Francis an “imbecile” for defending social justice. The president, who performed the sign of the cross at the start of the ceremony, was seated to Francis’ right on the side of the main altar.