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Francis Meets Argentine Leader After Frosty Ties Francis Meets Argentine Leader After Frosty Ties
(about 3 hours later)
VATICAN CITY — A day ahead of his formal installation, Pope Francis met privately with Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the president of his native Argentina, with whom he had clashed over social issues such as Argentina’s legalizing gay marriage. VATICAN CITY — A day ahead of his formal installation, Pope Francis met privately on Monday with Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the president of his native Argentina, with whom he had clashed over social issues such as Argentina’s legalizing gay marriage.
The two met for 15 minutes of private conversation before a lunch together, the Vatican said. It did not issue a statement, but in a news conference later in Rome, Ms. Kirchner said she found the pope, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, “calm, confident and at peace, tranquil.” The two met for 15 minutes of private conversation before a lunch together, the Vatican said. It did not issue a statement, but in a news conference later in Rome, Mrs. Kirchner said she had found the pope, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, “calm, confident and at peace, tranquil.”
“I could also say that he is occupied and concerned about the immense task not only to govern Vatican City State, but to change things that he knows need to change,” she added. She also asked Francis to intervene in the ongoing dispute over the Falkland Islands, she said. Argentina claims as the islands as its own but whose residents just voted to remain part of Britain.  “I could also say that he is occupied and concerned about the immense task not only to govern Vatican City State, but to change things that he knows need to change,” she added.
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. She also said she had asked Francis to intervene in the dispute over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina claims as its own but whose residents just voted to remain part of Britain.
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. For many years, the relationship between Francis and Mrs. Kirchner has been depicted as mutually hostile, as it was between him and her husband and predecessor, Néstor Kirchner, who died in 2010.
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. Underlying the strains have been accusations — dismissed by the Vatican — of complicity between the church in Argentina and the military dictatorship of 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.”
But it sharpened more recently over doctrinal issues that reflect Francis’ deep conservatism on the social issues that often divide Catholics. As the leader of Argentina‘s Jesuits for part of that time, Cardinal Bergoglio has 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 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. But the tensions sharpened more recently over doctrinal issues that reflect Francis’ deep conservatism on the social issues that often divide Catholics.
In 2010, the prelate described a government-supported law to legalize marriage and adoption by same-sex couples in Argentina as “a war against God” and “a maneuver by the devil.” Francis has been — and remains — a staunch supporter of the Vatican’s positions on abortion, the ordination of women, gay marriage, adoption by gay couples and other major issues.
In 2010, he described a government-supported law in Argentina 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 called his position “medieval.”At the time, Mrs. Kirchner called his position “medieval.”
The Vatican said that representatives of 132 countries and international organizations are expected to attend the installation Mass on Tuesday. One who is raising eyebrows is the autocratic President Robert G. Mugabe of Zimbabwe. He 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. The Vatican said representatives of 132 countries and international organizations were expected to attend the installation Mass on Tuesday. One who is raising eyebrows is Robert G. Mugabe, the autocratic president of Zimbabwe. He is the subject of a travel ban by European countries because of Zimbabwe’s human rights record, but exemptions allow him to travel to Vatican City, which is encircled by Italian territory, and to United Nations gatherings.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said that the Vatican does not issue invitations. “Those who wish to come, can. No one is refused, no one is invited,” he said. “We welcome those who want to come.” The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the Vatican does not issue invitations. “Those who wish to come, can,” he said. “No one is refused. No one is invited. We welcome those who want to come.”
The vice president of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., who is Catholic, will represent the United States at the Mass.  The delegation also includes Susana Martinez, the governor of New Mexico; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives; and Dr. John J. DeGioia, the president of Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who is Catholic, will represent the United States at the Mass. The delegation also includes Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico; Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader of the House; and John J. DeGioia, the president of Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution.
Francis is the first Jesuit pope and first pope from Latin America. Francis is the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from Latin America.
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 palium, 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.  At the installation Mass, Francis is expected to receive the fisherman’s ring, which recalls how St. Peter fished for food and later for souls, and the pallium, a white woolen vestment that symbolizes the role of the pope as a good shepherd. The ring was made from gold-plated silver by an Italian jeweler, Enrico Manfrini.

Rachel Donadio reported from Vatican City and Alan Cowell from London. Elisabetta Povoledo and Gaia Pianigiani contributed reporting from Rome.

Rachel Donadio reported from Vatican City, and Alan Cowell from London. Elisabetta Povoledo and Gaia Pianigiani contributed reporting from Rome.