Pope Francis recently met with Victoria Villarruel, the Vice President of Argentina, at the Library of the Apostolic Palace. Their hour-long meeting was filled with warmth and affection, with the Pope greeting Villarruel with a cordial “Nice to see you”. Villarruel, known for her sense of humor, responded by asking if the Pope was still alive and expressed her happiness to see him standing, referencing his recent public appearances in a wheelchair.
As a practising Catholic, Villarruel has been open about her faith, participating in pilgrimages to the National Shrine of Luján and sharing Easter greetings on social media. Argentine priest Javier Olivera Ravasi describes her as having a strong and determined personality, shaped by her upbringing as the daughter of military officers. Villarruel attends Mass in the traditional rite and has spoken out against abortion, advocating for the right to life from conception, which she bases on “pure biology” rather than religious reasons.
During their meeting, the Pope and Villarruel exchanged gifts, with the Vice President giving the Pope a statuette of a horse with its foal and a Spanish sweet. In return, Francis gave her a blessed rosary, a book about the historic blessing in March 2020, and a personalized message of peace. As they parted ways, Villarruel affectionately said, “I pray for you, but you pray for me, eh!”
Villarruel’s commitment to her faith is evident in her actions, having attended a Mass for Life in Luján in 2018 and expressing her intention to repeal the Abortion Law, although she acknowledges the current priority is addressing Argentina’s economic crisis. Following her assumption of office, Villarruel met with the Military Bishop of Argentina, Monsignor Santiago Olivera, and the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Monsignor Jorge GarcÃa Cuerva, demonstrating her dedication to her faith and her country.