Javier Milei is in Rome for Pope Francis' funeral and could meet with Giorgia Meloni after the burial.
ROME - Javier Milei landed in Rome , a city in turmoil following the death of Pope Francis . The President arrived at 7 p.m. local time, five more than in Argentina, accompanied by a delegation of seven trusted officials. The Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace) assures that it will be a short and sober tour, meaning no activities other than the presence of the president and his cabinet at Jorge Bergoglio 's funeral , which will take place in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. However, in a late-night interview, the head of state stated that he had verbally agreed to a meeting with Giorgia Meloni after the funeral.
Milei is supported by his sister Karina ; the Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos ; the presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni ; the Foreign Minister, Gerardo Werthein ; the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich ; the Minister of Human Development, Sandra Pettovello; and the Secretary of Worship, Nahuel Sotelo . The president flew on the presidential plane ARG-01, which departed from Aeroparque and made a stopover on the island of Gran Canaria (Spain).
Around 8 p.m., the delegation arrived at the Ambasciatori Intercontinental Hotel, located on Via Veneto, the avenue that gained fame from the film La Dolce Vita . During the 1960s, it was a strip of luxury shops and cafes, now converted into a site for grand hotels.
Milei, dressed in a leather jacket, got out of an official car with his sister. He made no statements. Due to the late arrival, he did not attend St. Peter's Basilica, where thousands of faithful lined up to bid farewell to the Argentine Pope.
The government did not release an official agenda for the trip, but official sources told LA NACION that the President is not expected to hold bilateral meetings with other leaders during the trip, as the travel time will be short. The majority of the delegation is expected to return that same Saturday, immediately after Pope Francis's funeral, they added. The meeting with Meloni has not yet been confirmed.
The Pope's death brought together dozens of presidents from around the world, including several ideologically aligned with the Argentine president, such as Donald Trump . The President traveled specifically to Miami three weeks ago to meet with the US leader at an event, but the meeting ultimately fell through.
Giorgia Meloni , the Italian prime minister who has a good relationship with Milei, will also be present at the funeral. Both will have a privileged place at the ceremony, given the importance of their countries to Pope Francis , official sources indicated.
"A vivid memory: I've known him since I was 16," Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos said, with an emotional expression, regarding Francisco, to reporters stationed at the hotel entrance.
Patricia Bullrich also stopped to make a statement. She was asked if she would like to share any impressions about the late Pope. “A humble Argentine, whom we all loved,” she said. Months earlier, Francis had publicly criticized her policy of repressing social protests. “Instead of paying for social justice, they paid for the pepper spray,” she said last September.
Milei arrived at the hotel at dusk in Rome, a city already crisscrossed by sirens and caravans of heads of state who had arrived that afternoon to attend the funeral.
In fact, delegations from Singapore and Panama are staying at the same hotel as the President. As soon as he got out of the black car, Milei and her sister Karina entered the hotel, watched by some 50 curious people who approached due to the security detail.
original news
lanacion
