Pope hails four decades of peace between Argentina, Chile – but Werthein skips celebration

Pope Francis headed the ceremony Monday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Peace and Friendship Treaty signed between Argentina and Chile in 1984 – but Javier Milei’s top diplomat skipped the ceremony.

Argentina’s Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein refused to attend the ceremony, citing “clashes" at the G20 Summit in Brazil with Chilean government officials.

The decision was criticised by opposition leaders in Argentina.  

Francis, 87, hosted the celebration to mark the historic deal, which was signed on November 29, 1984, after support and intervention from John Paul II. 

History indicates that the then-pontiff’s intervention helped to avoid an armed intervention over the Beagle Channel dispute. 

In his speech Monday, Francis underlined that the agreement "is a model to imitate and deserves to be proposed in the current situation of the world in which so many conflicts persist and are aggravated."  

Along those lines, he urged the international community to pursue the path of dialogue, centring on the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine where "the bullying of the invader prevails over dialogue."

Recalling the Argentina-Chile treaty with pride, the Pope concluded by questioning the "hypocrisy in some countries which talk of peace and sell arms," describing as a "defeat for humanity" the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.

The Pope did not refer once to the absence of Werthein, despite the relative surprise over the newly appointed official’s non-attendance.

Speaking last weekend, Werthein said the decision had nothing to do with his countryman at the Holy See.

"I’m not going. We have a profound respect for the Pope and the Vatican but unfortunately things sometimes happen within bilateral relationships which complicate everything. At the G20 we experienced some circumstances pointing to this not being the best time to show up in person," emphasised the minister.

He further explained: "Argentina will be represented by our ambassador in Rome. My not going has a bit to do with what happened in Brazil. We had a clash whose details I’d prefer not to go into. They know what happened and I sent a letter. Argentina, far from having problems, has a very good relationship."

After the uproar triggered by his absence and the surprise expressed by the Vatican, the foreign minister said that he would be meeting up with the pontiff soon enough.

"Shortly, when the Holy Father so wishes, I’d be very happy to visit him, greet him and present my respects," he expressed.

At the same time, he maintained that over and above the clash between President Milei and his Chilean counterpart Gabriel Boric in Rio de Janeiro, the bilateral relationship is "intact" – a bold claim given the inability to be in the same room as Chilean officials.

"At times the ties between people can stumble but [Chile] continues to be a sister country and a neighbour," claimed Werthein.

– TIMES/AFP