Details of how the second audience between Alberto Fernández and Pope Francis took place in the Vatican

(From the presidential plane to Lisbon, Portugal) When this week it has been confirmed that as part of his tour of Europe, in which seek geopolitical support to advance negotiations with the IMFAlberto Fernández was going to meet Pope Francis in the Vatican, the news shook the political world.

Fernández’s second audience with the Supreme Pontiff, the first was last year, began to take shape when the first president’s trip to the old continent practically closed. It is that when doubts have dissipated on the worsening of the pandemic both in Europe and in Argentina, the ambassador to the Vatican, Maria Fernanda Silva, contacted the authorities of the Catholic Church on April 29.

A few days later, the May 3, Francisco’s private secretariat called Silva to confirm that the Sovereign Pontiff would receive Fernández on Thursday May 13. The next day, the Pope’s advisers ratified the date with a official letter which reached the Argentine Ambassador to the Vatican.

In that letter, which has seven paragraphs and all the symbols of official Vatican correspondence, you can read a paragraph like this: “The Secretary of State pays tribute to the Honorable Ambassador of the Argentine Republic and, with reference to Note Verbale n. SS N 9/2021 of April 29, 2021, we are pleased to inform you that the President of the Republic, HE Alberto Fernández, will be received in audience by the Holy Father on the morning of Thursday, May 13. in the study of the Paul VI room “.

An important detail of this audience that Fernández will hold with the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires is that next Thursday the feast of the Virgin of Fatima, therefore the traditional place where the Pope meets world leaders, the Apostolic palace, it will be closed. Next, Francisco will receive the first Argentine president in the Aula Paulo VI studio.

Although this is the second time that Fernández and Francisco have met as President of Argentina and as Head of State of the Vatican, the relationship between the two has been years since they have known each other since the Pope has been Jorge bergoglio and was in charge of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, while the current first president was Leader (first by Néstor Kirchner then by Cristina Kirchner).

Although, as expected, they had differences before, during and after the debate on the legalization of abortion in Argentina, the relationship between the two has never suffered and communications (which are usually done by landline or mail, since the Pope does not use the WhatsApp messaging network or similar) have not been cut either.

Meanwhile, before a version that maintained that the hearing between Francisco and Fernández had generated rispidences in certain sectors of the Catholic Church, in dialogue with Infobae, the secretary of worship, Guillermo Olivieri, assured that “There was no diplomatic problem with the president’s audience. Alberto (for Fernandez) requested that we request an audition and it was done. We received a note verbale in a timely manner. We never thought it wouldn’t happen. It is an Argentinian pope who receives an Argentinian preacher ”.

Fernández is heading to Europe on a tour that will take him through Spain, Portugal, France e Italy with the Minister of the Economy, Martín Guzmán. The president’s agenda has several confirmed audiences, in addition to the appointment with the Sovereign Pontiff, such as those he will maintain with King Felipe of Spain; and the presidents of France, Emmanuel Macron; from the Italian government, Sergio Mattarella; and from the Council of Ministers of that country, Mario Draghi; among others.

The Head of State will return to the country on Friday 14.

Although at first it was believed that the tour could be postponed or shortened due to the pandemic, the president’s decision to broaden the scope of your international visit.

Alberto Fernández included the first lady in the official entourage, Fabiola Yanez; to the chancellor, Felipe Solá; to the Secretary General of the Presidency, Julio Vitobello; and the communications secretary, Juan Pablo Biondi.

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