Argentina ‘orphaned’ by death of Pope Francis

Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva said Francis had ‘insisted a thousand and one times that there should be room for everyone in the Church’.

The Archbishop of Buenos Aires led an emotional liturgy to commemorate Pope Francis, who led the diocese from 1998 to 2013.

“The old man has died, leaving us … orphaned,” said Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva after the Pope’s death on Monday.

He described Argentineans as “orphans of a father who loved his country deeply and had to learn to be the father of the world”.

Preaching at a Mass in Buenos Aires on Monday, Cuerva said: “The Pope of the poor, the marginalised, the people no one likes or many exclude has gone from us.”

He recalled how Francis had “insisted a thousand and one times that there should be room for everyone in the Church”.

Despite tears – mirrored in the faces of many in the congregation – Cuerva continued: “Now, all of us have to be a bit like Francis and not forget, discriminate or leave out the most marginalised people of all.” 

He added: “The best homage we can render Francis is to be united, to dialogue and stop confronting one another the whole time because … there is no greater sorrow for a father than to see divisions among his children.”  

Cuerva said the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Buenos Aires would remain open for those wishing to pray for Francis.

“This was the seat of Cardinal Bergoglio. In a small way, it’s his home,” he said.

Cuerva was a cura villero, a priest who worked in the slums of Buenos Aires prior to his appointment as archbishop. On Monday, he revealed he had been depressed after criticism evoked by his appointment in May 2023. He said: “And [Francis] called me every day. He always ended our chats saying, ‘Don’t lose your good humour. God is great.’”

The President of Argentina, Javier Milei decreed seven days of official mourning in the country for Pope Francis.

Before taking office in December 2023, after winning national elections with his party Libertad Avanza (“Freedom Advances”), he accused the Pope of being an “imbecile” who promoted communism. After assuming power, Milei reconciled with Francis.

In a message on social media, Milei spoke of his “great sorrow” on hearing of the Pope’s death. “In spite of differences that today seem minor, to have known him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honour for me,” he said. Milei will travel to Rome for the Pope’s funeral.

Elsewhere in Latin America, the Archbishop of Lima Cardinal Carlos Castillo thanked God “for the huge joy we have always received from the constant presence of the Holy Father, who worked for the Church and humanity to the last day of his life”.

He prayed “that the Church’s destiny may always continue to be that of a clear sign of trust in the Lord and generous surrender to the Spirit so that we may proclaim the Gospel to all nations with the same joy that Francis taught us.

“I wish to communicate to you the sadness we feel and the hope that we still have from someone who bore witness to Jesus Christ and revealed him in his life. We ask you all to pray for Francis that now too, from the Kingdom of God, he may continue to give us the strength and the spirit to bear witness to him vigorously, especially in the needs of the weakest and poorest, the marginalised and of those at the bottom of society throughout the world.

The Church must strive to continue Francis’ “synodal projects”, he said, “so that we could have a Church that was equal to the difficult situation of the world”.

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