BUENOS AIRES, June 7 (Reuters) - Argentina's President

Javier Milei held his first official audience with Pope Leo at

the Vatican on Saturday where he confirmed that the pontiff will

visit the South American country, according to the presidential

spokesman.

No further details of the planned visit were disclosed on

Saturday.

Milei had a tense relationship with Pope Francis, the late

Argentine pope who never returned to his native country during

his 12-year papacy, potentially signaling the start of a new

diplomatic chapter.

"The Pope confirmed to the President during our recent

meeting that he will visit Argentina," Manuel Adorni, the

presidential spokesperson wrote via social media.

The papal visit could take place as soon as next year,

according to Argentina's daily newspaper La Nación, as part of a

tour that would include stops in Uruguay and Peru, where Leo,

the first U.S. pope, resided for nearly 20 years.

Milei, a libertarian and ally of U.S. President Donald

Trump, was not present at the inauguration ceremony of the new

head of the Catholic Church due to local legislative elections

he was required to attend.

Discussions between the two parties on Saturday were

described as "cordial" and addressed issues of "common interest

such as socioeconomic progress, the fight against poverty, and

the commitment to social cohesion, in addition to addressing

ongoing conflicts," the Vatican later said in a statement.

Milei met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday in

Rome as part of his visit, where an agreement between Italian

energy group Eni and Argentina's state-owned energy

firm YPF was signed.