Archbishop criticizes Argentine President Milei's austerity policies during religious ceremony

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Archbishop of Buenos Aires fiercely criticized Argentine President Javier Milei during a religious ceremony the leader attended Sunday, saying that under the government's harsh policies “fraternity, tolerance and respect are dying."

Milei, a libertarian and staunch ally of President Donald Trump, has implemented austerity policies, a sort of fiscal shock therapy, in an attempt to reign in painfully high inflation in the South American nation. But the policies have also left poverty rates soaring and fueled waves of protests, which in some cases have been met with a violent response by police.

On Sunday, Archbishop Jorge Garcia Cuerva denounced those policies and the larger political atmosphere in Argentina in front of Milei, who was kneeling alone in the front row, and members of his Cabinet.

“Argentina is bleeding from inequality,” he said. The government “is far away from the people in the streets. They don't feel their pain, nor their frustrations.”

Milei watched the speech still faced. Garcia Cuerva warned of hate and misinformation spreading through social media. He described it as “terrorism through social media," citing former Pope Francis, who hailed from Argentina. Milei's government often uses social media to attack critics, including politicians and journalists, calling them names like “degenerates” and “baboons.”

Garcia Cuerva also called for more support for the poor and young people he said are increasingly thrown into precarious situations. He specifically highlighted retirees, whose pensions have been severely affected by the austerity policies, and who hold protests every week, often met by police repression.

“Retirees deserve a dignified life with access to medicine and food, a wound that has remained open and bleeding for years, but as a society we must heal it soon,” Garcia Cuerva said.

President Javier Milei, second from right, and Vice President Victoria Villarroel, right, watch a parade marking the anniversary of the formation of Argentina's first independent government in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

President Javier Milei arrives to a Mass to mark the anniversary of the formation of Argentina's first independent government in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

President Javier Milei, third from left, and members of his cabinet watch a parade marking the anniversary of the formation of Argentina's first independent government in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

President Javier Milei waves after a Mass marking the anniversary of the formation of Argentina's first independent government, alongside his sister Karina, left, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina’s President Javier Milei gives a thumbs-up after voting, accompanied by his sister Karina Milei, right, during city legislature elections in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

HANOI, Vietnam--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 13, 2026--

FPT, through its global IT services subsidiary FPT Software, has achieved ISO/IEC 42001:2023, the first global standard for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Management Systems. With this milestone, FPT became the first company in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia to earn this recognition, underscoring its commitment to responsible AI development and deployment with consideration for fairness and impartiality, privacy and security, safety, quality and robustness, governance, transparency and explainability.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112494011/en/

The certification was issued by the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company SGS and qualified by ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) - a leading U.S. accreditation body with global recognition. ISO/IEC 42001 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving AI management systems, allowing organizations to effectively manage risks and opportunities associated with AI, balancing innovation with compliance.

Achieving ISO/IEC 42001:2023 reflects FPT’s capability in AI governance, encompassing ethics, risk management, transparency, compliance, and ensuring alignment with both business goals and societal values. It also strengthens FPT’s position as a trusted technology partner for global organizations, especially those in highly regulated industries such as banking and financial services, automotive, healthcare, energy, and the public sector. The milestone further solidifies FPT’s position as an AI-first company, strengthening its foundation for scaling AI responsibly while helping clients navigate evolving regulatory, ethical, and operational challenges associated with AI adoption.

“As an AI-first company, we pledge to prioritize safety, ethics and accountability at every stage of our AI lifecycle. By continuously governing AI development and implementation processes, we provide our clients and partners with the assurance that our solutions are built with responsibility, transparency and adhere to international excellence,” said Dao Duy Cuong, FPT Software EVP and Chief Digital & Technology Officer, FPT Corporation.

FPT actively promotes responsible AI development as a founding member of the AI Alliance led by IBM and Meta, and the Vietnam Ethical AI Committee. The company is committed to embedding rigorous AI governance across its global operations and solution portfolio, including its flagship AI platform FleziPT, which boosts productivity by 30%, accelerates development by 60% and reduces 50% in rework. The company also maintains co-creation partnerships with global leaders like AWS, Microsoft, SAP, and NVIDIA to deliver tailored solutions for industry-specific challenges. Supporting these efforts is a workforce of over 25,000 AI-augmented, globally certified engineers, and world-class infrastructure including cutting-edge AI Factories in Vietnam and Japan, which have been ranked among the world’s Top 40 fastest supercomputers. Expanding its AI footprint, FPT is developing a new Research Center in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, which is expected to become a critical component of its global AI development network, supporting high-quality talent cultivation for both the local community and the nation.

About FPT

FPT Corporation (FPT) is a globally leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam, operating in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. Over more than three decades, FPT has consistently delivered impactful solutions to millions of individuals and tens of thousands of organizations worldwide. As an AI-first company, FPT is committed to elevating Vietnam’s position on the global tech map and delivering world-class AI-enabled solutions for global enterprises. FPT focuses on three critical transformations: Digital Transformation, Intelligence Transformation, and Green Transformation. In 2024, FPT reported a total revenue of USD 2.47 billion and a workforce of over 54,000 employees across its core businesses. For more information about FPT's global IT services, please visit https://fptsoftware.com.

FPT received ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification during the certification award ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam