But, to many Argentines, he has done something far worse: attacked the pope.

In 2020, Mr. Milei, a self-identifying Catholic, called Pope Francis an "imbecile" and "the representative of the Evil One on earth" because he defends "social justice." Last year, Mr. Milei said the pope "always stands on the side of evil" because he supports taxes.

And last month, in an interview with the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Mr. Milei said the pope "has an affinity for murderous communists" and is violating the Ten Commandments.

Those are bold words for a man trying to become president in Argentina, where nearly two out of three people identify as Catholic, where the state is officially Catholic and where the Argentine pope is, to many, a national hero.

But Mr. Milei — a Rolling Stones cover band singer turned libertarian economist turned television pundit turned politician — is not your average presidential candidate.

He has run with little party structure around him. He has vowed to decimate the government he is vying to lead. He promises deep cuts to social services. He wants to discard his nation's currency.