Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman rejected allegations about an alleged “discrediting operation” by Argentina’s ambassador to the Vatican Juan Pablo Cafiero to stop the election of former Buenos Aires city archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pope and denied that the government has changed its opinion about now Francis.
A Franciscan friar tortured and killed by Argentina’s last civil-military dictatorship, could become the first religious leader to be beatified by Pope Francis according to a piece in the Italian newspaper La Stampa.
The Vatican Press Office has announced that Pope Francis will meet Argentine President Cristina Fernández on Monday at 8.50 AM Buenos Aires time. It will be the first official meeting the pontiff holds with a head of state.
British Prime Minister David Cameron stated on Friday that Pope Francis had been wrong to say last year that Britain had usurped the Falkland Islands from Argentina, saying he respectfully disagreed with the new Pontiff. His words have been interpreted as a message anticipating the Argentine government’s possible attempts to get the new pope involved in the dispute.
In his first public Mass, Pope Francis urged the Catholic Church on Thursday to stick to its roots and shun modern temptations, warning that it would become just a compassionate NGO if it forgot its true mission.
Argentine President Cristina Fernández will be attending the official ceremony installing Jorge Ramon Bergoglio as Francis I which is scheduled to take place next March 19. The announcement was made by the presidential office.
Three firsts for the new Pope: Argentine, Jesuit and his election by fellow cardinals was announced by twitter. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is a theological conservative with a strong social conscience, and a modest man who declined the archbishop's luxurious residence to live in a simple apartment and travel by public transport.
Buenos Aires Archbishop Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio called for more humbleness from Argentina’s ruling establishment during the traditional Independence Day Tedeum at the Metropolitan cathedral which as has been the case in previous occasions did not count with the attendance of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
The Catholic Church again expressed “concern” about the increase in crime and insecurity during the opening of the 156th Episcopate Permanent Committee Summit presided by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.