Puzzling ‘lack of warmth’ from Francis on Macri’s visit to the Vatican

The Argentine vice-president, Gabriela Michetti, has said it was “very painful” to see what she called the grim look on Pope Francis’ face during his meeting at the Vatican with President Mauricio Macri on 27 February, writes Isabel de Bartodano.  

“It was so hard to see that the Pope really wasn’t smiling in the way that he has during other meetings,” said Ms Michetti, who has long been a close friend of Francis.

There has been much preoccupation in Argentina over the nature of the meeting, which lasted only 22 minutes.

Ms Michetti said she found it difficult to understand why Francis appeared to be unfriendly towards Mr Macri.

“I’m absolutely convinced they have lots in common. They both make the poor their priority, one from a political angle and the other as leader of the Catholic Church,” she said during an interview on the TN television channel.