Pope won’t travel to Argentina if not invited, doctrine prefect says September 20, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Comments by a leading Argentinian presidential candidate may have dampened hopes that Pope Francis would soon visit his home country for the first time since becoming pope, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said. Asked in an interview with Spanish media outlet Religión Digital whether Pope Francis would still travel to Argentina despite the comments, fellow Argentine Cardinal-designate Víctor Fernández said, “Surely the pope will not go somewhere where he is not invited, where they can use or complicate his visit for political benefit or where the authorities look down on his presence.” The candidate, Javier Milei, said Pope Francis “has an affinity for communist murderers,” naming former Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as examples. In an interview with American media personality Tucker Carlson released Sept. 15, Milei said the pope “plays politics” and “is lenient of those on the left, even if they truly are murderers.” Argentine priests celebrated a community Mass in a poor neighborhood of Argentina Sept. 5 to “make amends” for comments Milei made against the pope while campaigning. Argentina’s general elections are scheduled for Oct. 22. In April, Pope Francis told the Argentine newspaper La Nación that he planned to visit Argentina in 2024, but also asked, “Please don’t link me with Argentine politics.” Read More Vatican News Meeting US Jewish leaders, pope warns differences must not fuel prejudice Pope invites youth to bring wounds, dreams to Seoul as WYD registration opens Pope Leo needs ‘no further treatment’ following lung cancer surgery Protecting marriage more urgent than ever, pope says after surgery Ahead of pope’s surgery, Mexican bishops brought plight of country’s missing persons to pontiff Pope Leo urges Ukraine-Russia humanitarian cooperation as Russian strike kills children at playground Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
Pope Leo urges Ukraine-Russia humanitarian cooperation as Russian strike kills children at playground
