Pope backs Argentinian sovereignty over Falklands in long private meeting with President Kirchner

A cup of mate tea for each party was served during the almost two hours twenty minutes that the Holy Father Francis and President Cristina Kirchner remained together.

Officials with access to the participants  informed Infobae that "the meeting was actually better than expected."

Cristina said that she saw Bergoglio as "serene, safe, peaceful, quiet, busy and preoccupied."

For a government source who was consulted, "the lunch marked a turning of the page in the relationship between the two actors."

The Pope's gesture of offering to meet the President emerged from work on several points by Chancellor Héctor Timerman, the Religious Affairs Secretary, Guillermo Oliveri and the Argentine ambassador to the Vatican, Juan Pablo Cafiero .

On Friday afternoon, the Protocol Office of the Pope called to invite Cristina to lunch. Parrilli Oscar, with his phone in hand near to the President in Olivos, responded affirmatively.

Malvinas: When Cristina suggested that his Holiness intercede with the United Kingdom to comply with the United Nations resolutions calling for dialogue, the successor of Pope Benedict privately confirmed its position in favor of the sovereignty of Argentina islands.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Government David Cameron had reacted quickly to Cristina Kirchner's position and  said his government hoped that the Vatican does not change position.

Youth: At lunch there was an opportunity to address the future agenda of the Holy Father and his trip to Brazil where he will attend the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro.

In this context, there was occasion to exchange views about youth involvement in the affairs of public life. And it was Francis who was "positive" about the incorporation of  youth in politics.

Visit: Without hesitation, the President extended invitation for an official visit to Argentina and which should be arranged by José María Arancedo , head of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina (CEA) and the Religious Affairs Department of the Argentine government.

As explained Cristina Kirchner, the Pope is not only the head of the Catholic Church but also head of the Vatican State, and thus to comply with protocol a 'double invitation " is issued.

Infobae learned that in the coming hours meetings will begin between Argentine officials and members of the Church to find a date.

Some predicted it would be in conjunction with the visit to Brazil, in July of this year, but since there are elections in October in our country, to take away any speculation about "photo" opportunities in the Presidential residence, it is more likely to be towards the end of the year.

Source-link to Infobae now broken

Cathcon- if these reports are true, we can expect some statement from the Pope during his visit to his homeland.