Pope receives new President of Argentina

By Vatican News

Pope Francis received the new President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, in the Vatican on Friday morning. The President then met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, accompanied by Msgr Mirosław Wachowski, Undersecretary for Relations with States.

According to the Holy See Press Office, both parties expressed satisfaction for the good relations that exist between the Holy See and the Argentine Republic. Discussions focused on the overall situation of the country, with particular reference to the economic-financial crisis, the fight against poverty, corruption and drug trafficking, social promotion and the protection of life from the moment of conception.

The significant contribution of the Catholic Church in favour of the whole of Argentinean society was recognized, especially its work with the most vulnerable sections of the population. According to the Press Office statement, the exchange between the Pope and the President also included topics of common interest in the region.

Clarification

Later, after the publication of the statement on the audience, the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni, answering questions from some journalists, specified that "not all the issues mentioned in the press statement on the audience to the President of the Republic of Argentina were addressed in all the talks: some were examined in the course of the audience with the Secretariat of State, others with the Holy Father".

On his part, in a press conference with journalists, President Fernández said that some issues, such as that of the defence of life, had not been dealt with in the conversation with the Pope but in the subsequent one with the superiors of the Secretariat of State.