In the footsteps of Pope Francis in Argentina | EUROtoday

On Apr 21, 2025

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C ‘is the best remorse of the Argentinian Catholic trustworthy: since his election as Pope in 2013, François, which known as in Argentina “Francisco”, has by no means walked his homeland. However, he traveled to Brazil in the summertime of 2013 for the World Youth Days in Rio.

Until his loss of life, Monday, April 21, 2025 on the age of 88, Jorge Bergoglio, the previous archbishop of Buenos Aires, has distanced himself from his nation, whereas frequently inquiring in regards to the scenario. Perhaps it was because of a sure resentment vis-à-vis the Argentinian political world, which too usually flirts in his eyes with populism. This is evidenced specifically by her advanced relationships with Cristina Kirchner then Javier Milei. The former peronist president (2007-2015) had additionally described it as “opposition leader”, which had deeply injured her.

However, Jorge Bergoglio was an actual “Porteño” (portègne) which had grown up within the suburbs of the Argentine capital. His neighborhood? Flores, southwest of town. The home of his household the place he spent his childhood nonetheless exists, similar to the stadium of his coronary heart soccer membership, San Lorenzo. In Argentina, Jorge Bergoglio has found and developed his nice social fiber. He didn’t spare himself to browse the slums of Buenos Aires and assist the motion of monks engaged within the discipline of social motion, which is nicknamed “Los Padres de la Villa”.

Jorge Bergoglio has at all times requested us to be omnipresent on the social entrance.

We have been capable of verify this of our final reviews in Buenos Aires, in January 2025. In the villa 21-24 of town, the white chapel of the Virgin of Cacupé stands among the many homes of crimson bricks. Here, everybody calls the ex-archbishop of Buenos Aires by identify, Bergoglio. No one says “Monseigneur” to him. Because many of the inhabitants of the Villa Miseria 21-24, the massive slum within the south of the Argentine capital, think about it considered one of their very own. It was usually he who baptized them and gave them the primary communion.

“Bergoglio came to his election as pope every December 8, the day of the Virgin of Capacé, to give the sacrament to hundreds of people,” stated Jacqueline, 29 in January. “He sat with us to debate and drink the mate. He at all times advised us that the better the duties, the extra humble you need to be. »»

Small cranium and face dug by wrinkles, Father Toto de Vedia, parish priest of the Virgin of Capacé miracles says: “We have about fifteen chapels distributed throughout the villa, where around 50,000 people live. Faced with drugs and violence, Jorge Bergoglio has always asked us to be omnipresent on the social front. This is also a pastor. »»

When Jorge Bergoglio showed the example in Buenos Aires

Toto de Vedia followed the advice of Pope Francis. He opened with volunteers from popular canteens in the neighborhood and helps residents for twenty years. “People have less work than a year ago. It is due to the freezing of investments in public infrastructure decided by the government of Javier Milei and to the fact that the middle class, very affected by the economic crisis, no longer has the means to pay domestic services offered by the inhabitants of the neighborhood, “he deplores.

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In Buenos Aires, Jorge Bergoglio additionally labored so much to reintegrate younger drug addicts. Every holy Thursday, he used to scrub younger toxicomans from slums. The applications combating addictions, specifically by a collective keep on the farm, allowed hundreds of younger folks to get out of it. “I am now a volunteer in the popular canteen and am completely treated today,” says Sebastian, who took benefit of considered one of these applications supported by Pope Francis. In the Cristo Hogar Center, different residents with tattooed arms gave due to the Pope, who enabled them to regain the best way to work or research after years of galley.

Jorge Bergoglio himself confirmed the instance when he lived in Buenos Aires. When he was a archbishop of town, he was touring by bus or metro. He had refused to accommodate within the official residence of the archbishopric, preferring him a abstract condominium adjoining the cathedral and a 10m workplace². In 2001, when he was created Cardinal by Jean-Paul II, he requested his relations to not journey to Rome and pay the costs of airplane tickets to the poor.

https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/sur-les-traces-du-pape-francois-en-argentine-21-04-2025-2587852_24.php