Post by Editor on Mar 18, 2013 20:05:53 GMT
You still haven't got a prayer, Mrs Kirchner: Argentina's President flies into Rome to ask compatriot Pope Francis to intervene in Falklands row
Request came at Pope Francis' first meeting with head of state today
He and Cristina Kirchner have history of spats over her liberal policies
Also arriving in Rome today was Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, 89
World leaders arriving for tomorrow's formal installation Mass of new Pope
By HARRIET ARKELL
PUBLISHED: 15:47, 18 March 2013 | UPDATED: 18:08, 18 March 2013
![](http://1.2.3.10/bmi/i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/18/article-0-18C1370E000005DC-241_634x468.jpg)
The new Pope's diplomatic skills were put to the test today as he met his old foe, Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner and she asked him to intervene over the Falkland Islands.
The Argentinian leader seized her chance during a lunchtime meeting with Pope Francis I, who is South America's first Pope, at his temporary home on the edge of the Vatican gardens.
Ms Kirchner, who has a long history of disputes with the Pope over her her socially liberal policies, met the Pope at the Vatican hotel a day before his formal installation Mass as Pope.
Scroll down for video
The Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner and Pope Francis I have been at odds before, most notably over the issue of gay marriage
After the three-hour meeting - the new Pope's first with a head of state - Ms Kircnher told reporters: 'I asked for his intervention on the question of the Malvinas.
'I asked for his intervention to avoid problems that could emerge from the militarisation of Great Britain in the south Atlantic.
'We want a dialogue and that's why we asked the Pope to intervene so that the dialogue is successful.'
More...
The blessing of the 150,000: Pope Francis is mobbed as he holds first Sunday audience
A double thumbs-up and a standing ovation, Pope Francis's press conference was more like the X Factor
Earlier this month, the islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British Overseas Territory. It is now known how the Pope responded to Ms Kirchner, but before he was Pope he has been quoted as saying that Britain had 'usurped' the islands from Argentina.
Ms Kirchner also presented the Pope with a mate gourd - a sort of traditional tea urn - and a straw, from which he could drink his favourite Argentinian tea.
Afterwards the Argentinian leader said the Pope had kissed her to thank her for the gift form his native country, saying: 'Never in my life has a Pope kissed me'.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295241/Argentina-president-Cristina-Kirchner-asks-Pope-Francis-I-intervene-Falklands.html#ixzz2NvKCfq2z
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Request came at Pope Francis' first meeting with head of state today
He and Cristina Kirchner have history of spats over her liberal policies
Also arriving in Rome today was Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, 89
World leaders arriving for tomorrow's formal installation Mass of new Pope
By HARRIET ARKELL
PUBLISHED: 15:47, 18 March 2013 | UPDATED: 18:08, 18 March 2013
![](http://1.2.3.10/bmi/i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/18/article-0-18C1370E000005DC-241_634x468.jpg)
The new Pope's diplomatic skills were put to the test today as he met his old foe, Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner and she asked him to intervene over the Falkland Islands.
The Argentinian leader seized her chance during a lunchtime meeting with Pope Francis I, who is South America's first Pope, at his temporary home on the edge of the Vatican gardens.
Ms Kirchner, who has a long history of disputes with the Pope over her her socially liberal policies, met the Pope at the Vatican hotel a day before his formal installation Mass as Pope.
Scroll down for video
The Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner and Pope Francis I have been at odds before, most notably over the issue of gay marriage
After the three-hour meeting - the new Pope's first with a head of state - Ms Kircnher told reporters: 'I asked for his intervention on the question of the Malvinas.
'I asked for his intervention to avoid problems that could emerge from the militarisation of Great Britain in the south Atlantic.
'We want a dialogue and that's why we asked the Pope to intervene so that the dialogue is successful.'
More...
The blessing of the 150,000: Pope Francis is mobbed as he holds first Sunday audience
A double thumbs-up and a standing ovation, Pope Francis's press conference was more like the X Factor
Earlier this month, the islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British Overseas Territory. It is now known how the Pope responded to Ms Kirchner, but before he was Pope he has been quoted as saying that Britain had 'usurped' the islands from Argentina.
Ms Kirchner also presented the Pope with a mate gourd - a sort of traditional tea urn - and a straw, from which he could drink his favourite Argentinian tea.
Afterwards the Argentinian leader said the Pope had kissed her to thank her for the gift form his native country, saying: 'Never in my life has a Pope kissed me'.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295241/Argentina-president-Cristina-Kirchner-asks-Pope-Francis-I-intervene-Falklands.html#ixzz2NvKCfq2z
Follow us: @mailonline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook