Pope Canonizes First Female Argentine Saint Before Meeting with Milei, Reports Reuters

By Alvise Armellini

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis canonized Argentina’s first female saint on Sunday, an event that saw him engage with one of his previous critics, Argentine President Javier Milei, who attended the ceremony at the Vatican.

Francis officiated a canonization Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica for Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, affectionately known as "Mama Antula." She was an 18th-century lay woman who chose to give up her family’s wealth to dedicate herself to charitable work and Jesuit spiritual practices.

Milei was present in the front row during the service and exchanged a few words with the pope afterward, greeting him with a handshake and a hug. The president is scheduled for a private audience with Francis on Monday.

This event occurred against the backdrop of Argentina’s severe economic challenges, marked by over 200% inflation, as the newly elected Milei struggles with a significant reform package facing parliamentary pushback.

Before assuming the presidency, Milei, a right-wing libertarian with a maverick reputation, had been critical of Francis, but he has toned down his rhetoric since taking office in December. He referred to the pope as "the most important Argentine in history" in a recent radio interview.

Milei expressed optimism about his upcoming dialogue with Francis and shared hopes that the pope, now 87 years old, would be healthy enough to visit Argentina in the near future. Since becoming pope in 2013, Francis has not returned to his homeland, though he has indicated plans to do so later this year.

Mama Antula was born to a wealthy family that owned land and slaves. She devoted her life to promoting spiritual exercises, including prayers and meditation, often going barefoot on long journeys to involve both the affluent and the less fortunate, despite the Jesuits’ expulsion from Latin America during that period.

Francis, a former archbishop of Buenos Aires and a Jesuit himself, described Mama Antula as “a gift to the Argentine people and also to the entire Church.”

In his remarks, the pope condemned "radical individualism," describing it as a societal "virus," which contrasts with Milei’s free-market philosophy. During his homily, he highlighted the importance of caring for the poor and marginalized, warning that "fear, prejudice, and false religiosity" lead to the widespread injustice of overlooking those in need.