President Javier Miley received this afternoon in Pink House to the members of the executive committee of the Argentine Episcopal Conference. Headed by its owner, Monsignor Oscar Vicente Ojea, the religious institution transmitted its “concern about the economic situation” in the context of growing poverty and destitution throughout the country.
In an attempt to smooth over differences, the first meeting between the head of state and the ecclesiastical authorities occurred a month after the institution issued a warning regarding the cessation of sending food to soup kitchens. “The food cannot be an adjustment variable“, they had pronounced at the time.
The Catholic Church confirmed that from this year it will no longer receive funds from the State
Javier Milei received the Argentine Episcopal Conference.
On this occasion, Milei was accompanied by the Ministers of Human Capital, Sandra Pettovello, of Foreign Affairs, Diana Mondino, and the Secretary of Worship, Francisco Sánchez. While the Argentine Episcopal Conference also attended the 1st Vice President Monsignor Marcelo Colombo (archbishop of Mendoza); the 2nd Vice President Monsignor Carlos Azpiroz Costa (archbishop of Bahía Blanca) and the Secretary General Monsignor Alberto Bochatey (auxiliary bishop of La Plata), among others.
Meanwhile, Ojea conveyed to Milei the concerns of the bishops throughout the country, particularly those who deal with poor sectors affected by “the lack of food and medicine.” He also thanked him for his “attentive listening” and reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s willingness to “collaborate in working for the common good and social peace.”
At the end of the meeting, the bishops gave the President an edition of the book, “Statio Orbis,” which narrates Pope Francis’ prayer in St. Peter’s Square at the beginning of the pandemic and the message for the World Day of Peace.
The comings and goings between Milei and the Catholic Church
With his trip to the Vatican where he met with Pope Francis, Javier Milei seemed to have left behind the grievances and subsequent apology he made before taking office as president. At the meeting a month ago, Francisco expressed his concern about the Argentine economic situation and Milei told him about his plans for the Ministry of Human Capital.
Shortly after, the bishop of Rome sent a message to a meeting of judges, prosecutors and politicians in which he sent a message that impacted Casa Rosada.
“The legitimacy of origin is not enough, the exercise also has to be legitimate. What is the point of having power if it distances itself from the construction of just societies?said Francisco, at the inauguration of the Buenos Aires headquarters of the Pan American Committee of Judges for Social Rights and Franciscan Doctrine (COPAJU) and the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Institute, a kind of NGO of judges.
The details of the meeting between Javier Milei and Pope Francis and with pilgrims in Rome
Francisco’s message followed a “warning” that the Argentine Episcopal Conference had issued a few days earlier after social organizations denounced that the government had suspended the delivery of food to soup kitchens.
“In this scenario of sacrificed work and low income, families deprive themselves of many things. A mother can deprive herself of taking a bus and walk to save, but in no way can she not feed her children. That is, food cannot be an adjustment variable“said the representative body of the Catholic Church in the country, through a statement.
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