Argentina: President Milei invites Pope on official visit

President Milei with his sister Karina, the Presidential Secretary, signs letter to Pope Francis

Source: Catholic Bishops Conference of Argentina - AICA

President Javier Milei has sent a letter to Pope Francis today, officially inviting him to visit Argentina. The presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni said the president wrote: "Your presence and his message will contribute to the unity of all."

"You well know that you do not need an invitation to come to Argentina. At the risk of saying the unnecessary, I invite you to visit our beloved Homeland, according to the dates and places indicated to us, keeping in mind the general desire of our cities, provinces and towns to count on His presence and transmit their filial affection," wrote the first president.

The full letter text follows:

"I appreciate your very significant phone call on November 22, after my election as President. I value your wise advice and wishes for courage and wisdom for me, so necessary to face the challenge of directing the destinies of our Country and our fellow citizens.

Personally, your words were a gesture of encouragement, in addition to strengthening my conviction about the urgency of transforming the reality that our country is going through to ensure peace and prosperity, through the social and political reforms that are so necessary.

I also take this opportunity to thank you for the participation of the Holy See in the ceremony of my assumption as President of the Nation on December 10 by sending the Apostolic Nuncio to Chile, Monsignor Alberto Ortega Martin, as its Representative.

Your Holiness, we Argentines are going through times of affliction and hope. We observe around us how poverty with its different faces and consequences reaches half of all our compatriots. Our economy is in a critical state and urgent measures must be adopted to avoid a social catastrophe with painful consequences.

Keeping in mind your advice to have the necessary wisdom and courage, in my first weeks in office I have proceeded to propose a series of government measures aimed at transforming the situation that the Argentine Republic has suffered for decades.

We are aware that these decisions can deepen inequalities, so our top priority is to protect our vulnerable compatriots, thanking the collaboration of the Catholic Church, whose action in the social field is invaluable.

You know well that you do not need an invitation to come to your beloved Argentina. At the risk of saying the unnecessary, I invite you to visit our beloved Homeland, according to the dates and places indicated to us, keeping in mind the general desire of our cities, provinces and towns to have His presence and transmit their filial affection.

As President of the Argentine Nation, I believe that your trip will bring fruits of pacification and brotherhood of all Argentines, eager to overcome our divisions and confrontations.

Your presence and your message will contribute to the long-desired unity of all our compatriots and will provide us with the collective strength necessary to preserve our peace and work for the prosperity and enlargement of our beloved Argentine Republic.

I know time is short. Even so, I hope that he can travel for the general joy of all the Argentine people. I reiterate to His Holiness the assurances of my highest consideration and respect for his work and his person .