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The Financial Times reports on President Cristina Fernández’ conversion to fandom of the Pope.
Before becoming Pope Francis, then archbishop Jorge Bergoglio had a frosty relationship with Ms Fernández. The archbishop was an outspoken critic of the government.
Jorge’s new role has fed a change in the President’s attitude. On a visit to Rome, President Fernández was charming and sought the Pope’s smile during a three-hour lunch.
The Times suggests that this is more than superficial. Argentina’s economic policy has changed in ways Jorge Bergoglio had advocated and the government also seems more open to the former political allies of the Pope.
The Pope’s views are difficult for Americans to understand because he grew up on and is sympathetic to a form of populist dictatorship that is Argentina’s dominant political movement, Perónism. This, however, may be closer to where Venezuela, Cuba, and even China’s forms of national socialism than the American concept of democracy.
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