VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis’ diplomatic skills were tested Monday as his political nemesis, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, asked him to intervene in the dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands. There was no immediate comment from the Vatican as to whether the Argentine-born Francis would accept her request, which was made during his inaugural audience with a visiting head of state on the eve of his installation as pope. Francis and Fernandez are longtime rivals: As leader of Argentina’s Read more [...]

Pope Francis holds a traditional calabash gourd used to drink Mate, which was given to him as a present from President Cristina Kirchner yesterday. Photograph: Argentine Presidency via New York Times