BUENOS AIRES, March 3 (Reuters)
For over a decade, Argentines have eagerly awaited the return of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, to his homeland. However, as the 88-year-old pope battles double pneumonia and faces increasing health challenges, the possibility of his long-anticipated visit to Argentina grows increasingly unlikely.
Since ascending to the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis has embarked on more than 45 international trips, making historic visits to countries such as Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, and Mongolia. Yet, despite his global outreach, the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires has never returned to Argentina, a fact that has puzzled and disappointed many of his compatriots.
A Polarized Political Landscape
Analysts and close associates attribute the pope’s absence to Argentina’s deeply polarized political environment. Jimmy Burns, author of the 2015 biography Francis, Pope of Good Promise, noted that Francis has been cautious about being drawn into the country’s political divisions.
“Any visit would try and be exploited by one side or the other, and he would unwittingly fuel those divisions,” Burns said. Argentina’s political landscape has long been divided between left-leaning Peronists and conservatives, a rift that has only deepened in recent years.
Guillermo Marco, a former spokesman for the pope during his time as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, echoed this sentiment. “He would have liked to come if he could have made a simple trip, let’s say, where he came to visit the people he loves and celebrate a mass for the people,” Marco told Reuters. “But he is fully aware there is a whole network of supporters and detractors who are fighting over him.”
A Papacy Focused on Inclusivity
Throughout his papacy, Francis has prioritized making the Catholic Church more inclusive and accessible, particularly to marginalized communities. Rogelio Pfirter, Argentina’s ambassador to the Vatican from 2016 to 2019, emphasized that the pope’s global mission has taken precedence over a homecoming.
“From the pope’s perspective, it has probably been much more important to travel to the Pacific, travel to Africa, travel to some other Latin American countries than to visit regions where the Church already has a strong position,” Pfirter said.
This focus on inclusivity has defined Francis’s tenure, earning him widespread admiration but also leaving some Argentines feeling overlooked. Sergio Rubin, an Argentine journalist and co-author of the papal biography *The Jesuit*, noted that opinions in Argentina are divided. “There are those who say that he should have come anyway because it would have helped close the political rift a little,” Rubin said.
Health Concerns and Unfulfilled Hopes
The pope’s recent health struggles have further dimmed hopes of an Argentine visit. In late January, Francis was hospitalized for two weeks in Rome’s Gemelli hospital due to a lung infection, marking the longest hospital stay of his papacy. Marco, who remains in close contact with the pope, described him as increasingly frail.
“He is 88 years old, and then you add to those 88 years the worries and pace of life that he tries to lead,” Marco said. “It’s like he has a willpower, a spiritual strength that God gives him that makes his body do things, but his body is already telling him: ‘I can’t.’”
Despite his physical limitations, Francis has expressed a deep connection to Argentina. In September, he told journalists, “They are my people,” but added that “various matters had to be resolved first” before a visit could be arranged.
A Complicated Relationship with Argentina’s Leadership
Argentina’s current political climate, under the leadership of President Javier Milei, has added another layer of complexity. Milei, who once referred to Francis as “the devil’s representative on Earth,” has since sought to mend ties with the Vatican. However, his administration’s tough austerity measures and controversial policies have further polarized the nation.
For many Argentines, the pope’s absence remains a source of disappointment. Claudia Nudel, attending a recent mass in Buenos Aires to pray for the pope’s recovery, expressed her sorrow. “That the pope has not come until now hurts me, it hurts me a little,” she said.
Others, like 70-year-old Silvia Leda, view the pope’s global mission as more significant than a personal visit. “I would have liked him to come, but I think the most important thing is what he can do for the world,” she said.
A Legacy Beyond Borders
As Pope Francis continues to navigate his health challenges and the demands of his global ministry, his legacy as a transformative figure in the Catholic Church remains secure. While his failure to return to Argentina may be a source of regret for some, his efforts to promote inclusivity, dialogue, and compassion have left an indelible mark on the world stage.
For now, Argentines can only hope that their beloved pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrants in 1936, will one day return to the land he still calls home. Until then, they join the global community in praying for his health and continued leadership.
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Report by Reuters; Edited by DAILY MENTOR