Argentines Mourn ‘Humble’ Pope and Native Son

Little by little, the church pews of Argentina filled up on Monday. Catholics woke up after a weekend filled with Easter celebrations to the news that Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a native son, had died. It was an emotional shock to a country still defined by its strong Roman Catholic tradition, and which had kept a close watch as the pope’s health deteriorated this year, and then appeared to improve.

Instead, grief-stricken Argentines noted what many considered a deeply personal loss before altars, with flowers, hand-scrawled messages and eclectic tokens of affection. “I remember he was a good person, very humble. He always thought of the poor, always,” said Susana Perez, 67, at the Basílica de San José de Flores, a church just blocks away from Francis’s childhood home in Buenos Aires, the capital.



Condolences poured in from all political and religious corners, and reflections dominated local radio stations and television. Even as they paid tribute, some Argentines said they had hoped Francis would have returned to Argentina after he was elected pope. Still, President Javier Milei declared seven days of mourning and midafternoon masses of remembrance were quickly scheduled.

At the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral, schoolchildren talked about the pope’s death during a tour. Before becoming pope, Francis’ pastoral work in Buenos Aires was defined by his commitment and involvement with the city’s poorer neighborhoods. As a result, many felt a personal connection to Francis and shared stories of their encounters with him.

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