Argentine President Javier Milei arrives late to Rome, skips final viewing of Pope Francis, and faces backlash for honoring ultraconservative critics of the pontiff while attacking journalists as “brutes.”

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Pope Francis Rests in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

Argentine President Javier Milei faced sharp criticism Friday after arriving in Rome hours after the closure of Pope Francis’s lying-in-state, opting to stay at his hotel rather than pay respects at the Vatican. The delay followed a high-profile event in Buenos Aires honoring two ultraconservative critics of the late pontiff, deepening scrutiny over Milei’s fraught relationship with the first Latin American pope.

Honoring Francisco’s Critics Before Departure

Milei spent his final hours in Argentina awarding a honorary doctorate to Spanish economist Jesús Huerta de Soto-a vocal Bergoglio critic-alongside libertarian ideologue Alberto Benegas Lynch , who once advocated severing ties with the Vatican. Huerta de Soto sparked widespread condemnation for suggesting Francis would now “learn moral truth” in death, while Benegas Lynch previously denounced the pope’s “totalitarian” social teachings.

The president landed in Rome at 7 PM local time Friday-moments after officials closed public access to Francis’s coffin-and proceeded directly to his Via Veneto hotel. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leading a 20-member delegation, became the final head of state to bid farewell, praising Francis’s “courage and compassion”. Milei’s delegation, including sister Karina Milei and Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, blamed Vatican scheduling but faced accusations of poor planning.

Papelón mundial: Milei llegó tarde a la despedida del Papa Francisco.
Así llegó el desquiciado con la comitiva de inútiles a Roma, mientras el Vaticano cerró las puertas de la Basílica de San Pedro 👇 pic.twitter.com/JGy0JCzb7P

— fabio rosales (@fabiorosales2) April 25, 2025

The text reads:International spectacle: Milei arrives late to Pope Francis’s farewell. This is how the deranged leader arrived in Rome with his entourage of incompetents as Vatican officials closed the doors of St. Peter’s Basilica

From Rome, Milei escalated his anti-media rhetoric, calling journalists “brutes” with “severe IQ deficits” on social media. Reports indicate he seeks a photo opportunity with Donald Trump during the funeral,a repeat of his failed attempt in Florida weeks prior. His itinerary includes accepting a Milton Friedman Award from libertarian groups, further aligning with far-right economic agendas.

While Milei’s delegation drew criticism for its small, ideologically aligned composition, Lula’s presence underscored regional reverence for Francis’s progressive legacy. The Brazilian leader emphasized the pope’s role in defending marginalized communities,a stark contrast to Milei’s past description of Francis as “the representative of the evil one on Earth”.

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