Pope Francis embraced newly elected Argentine President Javier Milei on Sunday—a once fierce critic who had previously dubbed the pontiff a "filthy leftist" and an "imbecile."
Francis' first meeting with Milei came during a mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City to canonize the first female saint from his native Argentina.
Milei was seated to Francis' right on the side of the main altar throughout the ceremony, which declared Mama Antula—an 18th-century laywoman who ministered to the poor—a saint.
The pair exchanged a few words, shook hands and hugged when Francis was wheeled over to him at the end of the service.
Francis, 86, is using a cane and a wheelchair because of a persistent knee ailment.
"MUCHAS GRACIAS...!!!" Milei wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of the encounter.
Milei is due to meet privately with Francis on Monday, before also having private talks with Italy's far-right Premier Giorgia Meloni.
Milei, a right-wing libertarian, described Francis as an "imbecile" and "the representative of malignance on Earth" during his campaign.
Before he ran for president, Milei had also insulted the pope, calling him a "filthy leftist," an "embarrassing communist," and a "piece of s***," according to The New York Times.
According to The Associated Press, Francis spoke at length with Milei after his election in December and has indicated he has forgiven him for the campaign rhetoric.
Milei has softened his tone since taking office.
Francis "is the most important Argentine in history," he said in a radio interview on Saturday.
Milei told Radio Mitre he was looking forward to "a very fruitful dialogue" with Francis, and said he hoped that pope's health would be good enough to face a trip to Argentina.
After Sunday's service, Francis addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
He noted that February 11 marks the World Day of the Sick.
"I wish to express my closeness, and that of the entire church, to all those who are sick or frail. Let us not forget God's style: proximity, compassion and tenderness," he said, according to the Vatican press office.
He added: "We cannot remain silent about the fact that there are so many people today to whom the right to care, and thus the right to life, is denied.
"I am thinking of those who live in extreme poverty; but I am also thinking of those who live in war zones: fundamental human rights are violated there every day. It is intolerable. Let us pray for beleaguered Ukraine, for Palestine and Israel, let us pray for Myanmar and for all peoples who are tormented by war."
Update 2/11/2024 11:33 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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