Argentina’s President Javier Millay met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday, bearing … sweets and other gifts as he seeks reconciliation with the pontiff he has often mocked in the past.

The two compatriots spoke for about an hour, an unusually long time for a private audience with the pope. However, the atmosphere between the two men seemed cold and awkward.

Millay insulted the Pope on several occasions before becoming Argentina’s president, but has changed his behavior since then, seeking to consolidate public support in his majority-Catholic country.

After his meeting with the Pope, Millay and a delegation of Argentine officials met with Vatican Secretary of State Piero Parolin and Secretary of State for Relations with States Paul Gallagher.

“During the cordial discussions, held at the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, appreciation was expressed for the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Argentina and the will to strengthen them further,” the Vatican said in a statement.

Then, the program of the new government to deal with the economic crisis (in Argentina) was examined.”

The Vatican added that attention “then turned to various issues of an international nature, particularly ongoing conflicts and the commitment to peace among nations.”

Miley, who is visiting Italy after a trip to Israel.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met earlier in the afternoon with the president of Argentina at Rome’s Palazzo Chizzi government building.

In a statement by the Italian Presidency of the Government, it is underlined that “during the meeting, reference was made to the historical ties of the two countries and the common will to strengthen bilateral relations, starting from the fields of energy, economic cooperation, infrastructure and agriculture” .

At the same time, Giorgia Meloni and Javier Millais agreed on the need for close coordination of the G7 group of countries (of which Italy holds the rotating presidency until the end of June) with that of the G20.

Prime Minister Meloni also reminded that the historic ship of the Italian navy Amerigo Vespucci is expected in Buenos Aires soon.