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| Francis Meets Argentine Leader After Frosty Ties | Francis Meets Argentine Leader After Frosty Ties |
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| VATICAN CITY — As heads of state and government converged for Tuesday’s formal inauguration of Pope Francis, one encounter in particular drew attention on Monday when the newly-elected head of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics met a more temporal and often adversarial leader — Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the president of his native Argentina. | VATICAN CITY — As heads of state and government converged for Tuesday’s formal inauguration of Pope Francis, one encounter in particular drew attention on Monday when the newly-elected head of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics met a more temporal and often adversarial leader — Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the president of his native Argentina. |
| The encounter may offer a first clue as to whether the new pope’s spiritual message of humility and simplicity will carry over to diplomacy on a global rather than national stage. | The encounter may offer a first clue as to whether the new pope’s spiritual message of humility and simplicity will carry over to diplomacy on a global rather than national stage. |
| But after 15 minutes of private conversation before a lunch together, neither side immediately issued a statement to say what had transpired. | But after 15 minutes of private conversation before a lunch together, neither side immediately issued a statement to say what had transpired. |
| For many years, the relationship between Francis — formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires — and the Argentine leader has been depicted as tense and mutually hostile, as it was between the prelate and her late husband and predecessor, Néstor Kirchner. | For many years, the relationship between Francis — formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires — and the Argentine leader has been depicted as tense and mutually hostile, as it was between the prelate and her late husband and predecessor, Néstor Kirchner. |
| Underlying the strains have been accusations — dismissed by the Vatican — of complicity between the church in Argentina and the military dictatorship in the 1970s and early 1980s in the so-called Dirty War when as many as 30,000 people are thought to have been killed or disappeared. | Underlying the strains have been accusations — dismissed by the Vatican — of complicity between the church in Argentina and the military dictatorship in the 1970s and early 1980s in the so-called Dirty War when as many as 30,000 people are thought to have been killed or disappeared. |
| As the leader of Argentina’s Jesuits for part of that time, Cardinal Bergoglio repeatedly disputed claims that he allowed the kidnapping of two priests in his order in 1976, accusations the Vatican is calling a defamation campaign. | As the leader of Argentina’s Jesuits for part of that time, Cardinal Bergoglio repeatedly disputed claims that he allowed the kidnapping of two priests in his order in 1976, accusations the Vatican is calling a defamation campaign. |
| But it sharpened more recently over doctrinal issues that reflect Francis’ deep conservatism on the social issues that often divide Catholics. | But it sharpened more recently over doctrinal issues that reflect Francis’ deep conservatism on the social issues that often divide Catholics. |
| As Cardinal, Francis was — and remains — a staunch supporter of the Vatican positions on abortion, gay marriage, the ordination of women and other major issues including adoption by gay couples. | As Cardinal, Francis was — and remains — a staunch supporter of the Vatican positions on abortion, gay marriage, the ordination of women and other major issues including adoption by gay couples. |
| In 2010, the prelate described a government-supported law to legalize marriage and adoption by same-sex couples as “a war against God” and “a maneuver by the devil.” | In 2010, the prelate described a government-supported law to legalize marriage and adoption by same-sex couples as “a war against God” and “a maneuver by the devil.” |
| At the time, Mrs. Kirchner said, “Bergoglio’s position is medieval.” | At the time, Mrs. Kirchner said, “Bergoglio’s position is medieval.” |
| But last Wednesday, after his election as pope was announced, the Argentine leader seemed prepared to make at least a formal gesture of reconciliation, congratulating him and telling him he had her “consideration and respect.” | But last Wednesday, after his election as pope was announced, the Argentine leader seemed prepared to make at least a formal gesture of reconciliation, congratulating him and telling him he had her “consideration and respect.” |
| The Vatican announced the midday meeting with President Kirchner with brief formality. | The Vatican announced the midday meeting with President Kirchner with brief formality. |
| Another head of state whose arrival drew some comment was the autocratic President Robert G. Mugabe of Zimbabwe, where the state broadcaster said he arrived in Rome on Monday en route to the inaugural Mass. Mr. Mugabe, 89, is the subject of a formal travel ban by European countries because of his country’s human rights record, but exemptions allow him to travel to the Vatican City state, encircled by Italian territory, and to United Nations gatherings. | |
| Mr. Mugabe was raised as a Catholic at a remote mission school in Zimbabwe. He was among leaders who attended the funeral in 2005 of John Paul II, whose successor, Benedict XVI, resigned last month at age 85 citing failing strength. | Mr. Mugabe was raised as a Catholic at a remote mission school in Zimbabwe. He was among leaders who attended the funeral in 2005 of John Paul II, whose successor, Benedict XVI, resigned last month at age 85 citing failing strength. |
| The Zimbabwean leader also attended ceremonies to mark the beatification of John Paul II in 2011. | The Zimbabwean leader also attended ceremonies to mark the beatification of John Paul II in 2011. |
| In all, representatives of 132 countries and international organizations are expected to be present at the ceremony, according to Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, who said no specific invitations were issued for the event. “We inform the world that there is a mass for the beginning of the new pontificate. Those who wish to come, can. No one is refused, no one is invited. We welcome those who want to come.” | |
| At the installation Mass on Tuesday, Pope Francis is expected to receive the fisherman’s ring — which recalls how St. Peter fished for fish and later for souls — and the pallium, a white woolen vestment that symbolizes the role of the pope as a good shepherd. The ring is made from gold-plated silver by Italian jeweler Enrico Manfrini. | |
| Father Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday is technically called the “beginning of the service of the Petrine ministry of the Bishop of Rome.” | |
| It will combine ritual with diplomacy, with the clergy and potentates getting the best seats in the house. At the left of the altar, will sit bishops and archbishops, along with the delegations of Christian Churches. On the right, space is reserved for heads of state and ministers. | |
| Below the steps that lead to the façade of St. Peter’s basilica, the delegations of other religions and priests and seminarians — 1,200 in all — will sit on the left, and members of the the diplomatic corps and other authorities will sit on the right. The rest of the square is open to the faithful. | |
| The ceremony is linked directly to Peter, the Apostle, Father Lombardi said. It begins at the the tomb of St. Peter, under the baldachin in the basilica, and continues to St. Peter’s Square, which is built in part over the circus of Nero, where St. Peter is believed to have been martyred. | |
| The pope will leave the Santa Marta convent at 8:50 a.m. and will ride the pope mobile around the square, and then will enter the basilica and go to the sacristy, near Michelangelo’s Pieta, to prepare for the celebration. From the sacristy, the pope will go to the tomb of St. Peter, accompanied by ten patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic churches, who include four cardinals. He will celebrate the mass with the cardinals. | |
Rachel Donadio reported from Vatican City and Alan Cowell from London. Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Rome. | Rachel Donadio reported from Vatican City and Alan Cowell from London. Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Rome. |