Javier Milei is a practicing Catholic, but Argentina’s new president of has made zero attempts to hide his opposition to much of the cultural and economic agenda of Pope Francis.
In a stunning outcome that few would have predicted even a few months ago, this libertarian economist and former soccer player was elected Argentina's president. In this political story, there is no “religion ghost,” since many politicos openly called the election a referendum on Pope Francis’ status in his home nation.
Milei, 53, won a resounding victory last Sunday with nearly 56% of the vote in a runoff against Sergio Massa. This was the highest winning percentage in a presidential election since the South American nation returned to democracy in 1983.
The self-described anarcho-capitalist — who many have compared to former President Donald Trump — said in a victory speech that the “reconstruction of Argentina begins today.”
“Argentina’s situation is critical,” Milei told a crowd of supporters. “The changes our country needs are drastic. There is no room for gradualism, no room for lukewarm measures.”
Milei made headlines earlier this year with his caustic descriptions of Pope Francis, was born in Argentina and once served as cardinal of Buenos Aires. The pontiff became a campaign lightening rod after Milei called Francis “a communist” and “leftist son of a b----.”
Francis’ message against the accumulation of wealth — including criticism of an “economic system that continues to discard lives in the name of the god of money” — has been seen by some voters as an endorsement for Peronism, which some have argued is left-wing populism in the style of Sen. Bernie Sanders.
In it’s report on the election, The New York Times stirred religion and populism into this snarky mix:
Mr. Milei overcame criticism and questions about a variety of unusual behaviors during the campaign, including his harsh attacks against the pope, his clashes with Taylor Swift fans, his claims of being a tantric-sex guru, his dressing up as a libertarian superhero and his close relationship with his Mastiff dogs that are named for conservative economists — and are also all clones.
Some voters were turned off by his past outbursts and extreme comments over years of work as a television pundit and personality. In one clip from years earlier that was shared widely during the campaign, Mr. Milei argues that the government is corrupt and robs from average Argentines.
“The state is a pedophile in a kindergarten,” he said, “with the children chained up and bathed in Vaseline.”
In this election, arguments about Catholicism were directly linked to concerns about the economy.
Inflation, meanwhile, continues to skyrocket. Inflation has gotten so high this year — it has soared above 140% this summer — that people are using U.S. dollars to buy high-priced items and goods.
Massa, a member of the ruling Peronist party and a former Economy Minister, conceded defeat, saying Argentines “chose another path” in this election.
“This is a triumph that is less due to Milei and his peculiarities and particularities and more to the demand for change,” Lucas Romero, who heads Synopsis, a local political consulting firm, told the Associated Press. “What is being expressed at the polls is the weariness, the fatigue, the protest vote of the majority of Argentines.”
Milei’s election highlights the emerging Argentina-Francis divide.
A 2019 national poll on religious beliefs showed the lack of fervor for Francis, when only 27% described him as a global leader who denounces injustices. Some 40% said they were indifferent to the pontiff, according to the survey conducted by the CONICET institute.
Like in other parts of the world, political populism and Christianity have made for a strange connection. Over 90% of Argentina is Catholic, although less than 20% practice their faith regularly. Nonetheless, Argentine society, culture and its politics are deeply imbued with Roman Catholicism.
In December 2020, Argentina’s abortion law was liberalized after the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy Bill was passed by the National Congress. Evangelicals, a growing segment of believers in South America, had teamed up with Catholics to combat the bill — much like they have in the United States. However, it was significant that Pope Francis not involved in those heated public debates.
Francis being averse to Argentine politics is understandable. In May 2020, the pope said that when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires more than a decade ago, the Argentine government wanted “to cut (his) head off” by backing false accusations that he had collaborated with the military dictatorship in the 1970s.
“The situation was really very confused and uncertain,” Francis added.
CONTINUE READING: “Pope Basher Javier Milei Elected Argentina’s New President” by Clemente Lisi at Religion Unplugged.
FIRST IMAGE: Poster featured at the JavierMilei Instagram account.