In brief
Buenos Aires is grappling with a profound sense of loss following the death of Pope Francis. The emotional farewell has been darkened by a painful question: Why did their native son not return to Argentina? Many fans of Francis gathered for a mass in Buenos Aires, expressing their disappointment over his absence. Laura Aguirre, a 50-year-old bakery cashier, articulated the lingering feeling of unease, saying, "I didn’t like that he never came to Argentina.”
Despite receiving invitations from every Argentine president during his twelve-year papacy, Francis avoided visiting his homeland, likely due to fears of being politically exploited. “He didn’t want any president to wrap themselves in his cloak, to say ‘I’m the one who brought the pope,’” noted Sebastián Morales, reflecting on concerns about political implications. Despite his high standing, the pope had a complicated history with various Argentine leaders, from clashes with Cristina Fernández de Kirchner over same-sex marriage to disapproving of policies by former president Mauricio Macri.Interestingly, Javier Milei, who previously disparaged Francis, reaffirmed his attendance at the pope's upcoming funeral despite earlier insults directed at the pontiff. As the nation grapples with loss, the absence of the pope in his homeland remains a salient and poignant topic of discussion.
