The rise of Pope Francis, the first Argentine to be elected to the papacy, held deep significance in Latin America. For many Argentines, the late Pope was both a controversial figure and a spiritual guide, with his life emblem of the tumultuous history of his nation.
Upon the news of his death, an outpouring of grief was seen as worshippers across Argentina and Latin America gathered for special Mass services to commemorate his life.
In the underprivileged neighbourhood of Barrio 21 in Buenos Aires, the Pope’s legacy resonates deeply. The area is home to the Virgen de Caacupé Parish, where the pontiff, known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, began his pastoral mission.
Francis dedicated himself to serving Argentina’s most vulnerable communities, setting the stage for a legacy marked by humility, inclusion, and service. Parishioners gathered not only to pay tribute to the Pope as a global spiritual leader but also to remember him as a local mentor whose compassion and faith touched countless lives.
Similar commemorations took place across Latin America. In Brazil, thousands of Catholic worshippers attended a solemn Mass at the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida, the largest Catholic church in Latin America. The sanctuary symbolizes Brazil’s deep devotion to Catholicism, the country being the world’s most populous Catholic nation. The Pope visited this site in 2013, celebrating Mass and reinforcing his connection to the Brazilian people.
In Peru, the Apostolic Nuncature lowered its flag to half-mast as a sign of mourning, and a Mass was held at the Church of the Nazarenas in Lima to mourn the Pope’s passing.
A Mass was also celebrated at Caracas Cathedral, where Archbishop Raúl Biord expressed a mixture of sadness over the Pope’s death and joy that it occurred just after Easter. In Colombia, worshippers gathered for Mass in Bogotá and in Havana, where bells tolled to announce the Pope’s passing, with a Mass held at the Church of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/04/22/pope-francis-latin-americans-mourn-the-first-ever-argentinian-elected-as-pontiff
