Pope canonizes Argentina's first female saint as the country's libertarian president Milei looks on

Argentina’s faith and politics have come together at the Vatican

VATICAN CITY -- 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.

Mama Antula was an 18th century laywoman who ministered to the poor and helped keep Jesuit spirituality alive in Argentina after the religious order — to which the pope belongs — was suppressed.

In an audience Friday with Argentine pilgrims in town for the ceremony, Francis held Mama Antula up as a model of charity at a time in which, he said, “radical individualism” was infecting society today.

Milei is to meet privately with Francis on Monday, before also having private talks with Italy’s far-right Premier Giorgia Meloni and the president.