Why the Pope never returned to Argentina

News of the death of Pope Francis has seen churches in his native Argentina crowded by people paying their respects to the first Latin American pontiff as president Javier Milei decreed seven days of national mourning.

This outpouring of emotion has been tinged with regret that during his 12-year papacy Francis never returned home to visit as pope. Seven of his voyages to 66 countries around the world were to Latin America but the closest he came to Argentina were trips to neighbouring Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile.

This was in sharp contrast to his two immediate predecessors, Benedict XVI and John Paul II, who returned to their native Germany and Poland respectively early in their pontificates.

For years after his election Francis spoke of a trip being under consideration. The country’s episcopal synod maintained an open invitation, as did each of the four presidents to hold office during his papacy. But he never came.