Pope says he hopes to visit 'suffering' Argentina this year

UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO

ROME - Pope Francis said on Sunday that the people of Argentina are suffering and that he hopes to be able make his first trip back to his homeland in the second half of this year.

On Thursday, Argentine President Javier Milei's office said he had invited the 87-year-old Francis to visit, appearing to extend an olive branch after attacking the Catholic leader in recent years.

"Yes I am worried because the people are suffering a lot. It is a difficult moment for the country," he said in response to a question about Argentina during an interview on an Italian television programme on Sunday night.

Argentina is facing its worst economic crisis in decades and Milei has said there was no alternative to a sharp and painful fiscal shock to remedy the situation.

After taking office in December, Milei, who once called the pope an "imbecile," unveiled a slew of economic measures meant to pull Argentina out of triple-digit inflation, rising poverty and a shortage of reserves.

More:
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/pope-says-he-hopes-to-visit-suffering-argentina-this-year