Pope Francis receives the President of Argentina

Pope Francis on Monday received Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of the Republic of Argentina at the Domus Santa Marta.

President de Kirchner was accompanied by her official delegation.

The Argentinean leader had already met Pope Francis on two occasions: the first on 18 March 2013, the day prior to the Mass for the Inauguration of his Pontificate in which she participated; the second on 28 July 2013, when she participated in the concluding Mass for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro.

The aim of the visit on Monday was to present the Holy Father with the greetings and good wishes of the people of Argentina on the occasion of the first anniversary of his Pontificate.

According to the press release, the Pope awaited the arrival of President Kirchner at the front door of the Domus Santa Marta shortly after 1pm. The audience took place in a room on the ground floor, first with the entire Delegation, afterwards, with the President alone.

Pope Francis meets Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at the Vatican on March 18, 2013

Photo: L'Osservatore Romano / AP

At about 1.30pm, the Pope and the President lunched together privately.

Source: en.radiovaticana.va