According to the Argentine newspaper Infobae, Pope Francis would have told a group of close people that his possible trip to Argentina does not depend on the result of the presidential elections between Sergio Massa and Javier Milei that will take place this Sunday.
In a note published on November 14 by Infobae, it is indicated that the Holy Father would have said: “My visit to Argentina does not depend on the victory of any party or defeat.”
“Nothing conditions me to decide,” he would have added.
The Pontiff would also have expressed his discomfort regarding priests who talk about a possible visit, without having his authorization to do so: “I feel very uncomfortable with the priests who go around the media speaking in my name,” Pope Francis would have commented. according to the Argentine media.
Infobae points out that the comments attributed to the Pope would be a response to an article published in the French newspaper La Croix a day earlier, in which one of the “Vatican’s most fervent defenders of Francis’ Latin American tour” is cited, pointing out that “If Javier Milei is elected, the trip project falls apart,” but “if Sergio Massa wins the elections, the Pope can go.”
On Sunday, November 19, the runoff or second round of the presidential elections will be held in Argentina, with candidates Sergio Massa and Javier Milei as contenders.
Sergio Massa is the current Minister of Economy of Argentina – mired in a deep economic crisis – and candidate for the Union for the Homeland party, formerly called Frente de Todos, which is now in government and has a progressive and Peronist tendency.
In the debate held last Sunday, Massa invited the Holy Father to visit Argentina in 2024 and said: “We would love to have him in Argentina.”
Javier Milei is a right-wing economist, candidate of the La Libertad Avanza party. On more than one occasion he has harshly criticized Pope Francis, but in recent days he has acknowledged that his statements were inappropriate and has apologized.
Before the debate he said about the Pontiff: “If I have to ask for his forgiveness, I will do it. I even invite him to come to Argentina. We will receive it with all honors.