Argentine president visits Pope, asks intervention on Falklands
March 18, 2013
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Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner met on March 18 with Pope Francis, with whom she had often clashed while he served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Fernandez reportedly asked the Pontiff to intervene in the dispute between Argentina and Great Britain over control of the Falkland Islands. The Vatican made no comment on the matter. The British Foreign Office issued a short statement saying that the dispute over the Falklands was a political matter involving two sovereign nations, in which the Holy See “does not have a role to play.”
Although the new Pope had sharply criticized Fernandez for (among other things) her drive to recognize same-sex marriage, and the Argentine leader had responded by attacking then-Cardinal Bergoglio, their luncheon meeting on March 18 was cordial. The Pope greeted Fernandez with a kiss on the check. “Never in my life has a Pope kissed me!” she told reporters later.
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Further information:
- Pope asked to intervene in Falkland Islands dispute (USA Today)
- Vatican releases details of installation Mass, pope’s coat of arms and motto (Washington Post)
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Posted by: larindoggieland5449 -
Mar. 18, 2013 8:46 PM ET USA
Kirchner had attacked Bishop Bergoglio as a political subject. Now that he is also pope of the Catholic Church, and Catholic Argentines are numerous, the relationship has shifted, or been made more apparent, and she knows it (to what extent, time will tell). Pray for her and for Argentina. Among others the pope prays for! Yes, it will be interesting to see what Pope Francis says if anything about the Falklands. It is a temporal matter, but temporal matters have a spiritual basis.
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Mar. 18, 2013 7:06 PM ET USA
Amazing how quickly Christina Fernandez de Kirchner was able to meet with our new Pontiff, especially since she had attacked him back in Argentina. I hope Pope Francis stays clear of the dispute over the Falkland Islands. It is a temporal matter and not a spiritual one.
