In Buenos Aires, parishioners gathered for an open-air mass to remember Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, on the night of his death. Laura Aguirre, a 50-year-old bakery cashier, voiced her disappointment, remarking, "I have to be honest, I didn’t like that he never came to Argentina." The conversations around the mass revealed a shared sentiment; many pondered whether the pope's avoidance of his homeland was tied to concerns about political exploitation.

Sebastián Morales, 37, highlighted this perspective, suggesting that Francis wanted to ensure no political figures could leverage his fame for their own agendas. Over the course of his 12-year papacy, Francis issued no visit invitations to Argentina, despite multiple requests from local leaders and every president who held office during his tenure.

His relationships with Argentine presidents were often fraught. As the archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had contentious exchanges with Cristina Fernández de Kirchner over contentious social issues like same-sex marriage. Similarly, he clashed with former president Mauricio Macri over various right-leaning policies. Recently, he vocally opposed the abortion legalization that President Alberto Fernández advanced in 2020.

The current president, Javier Milei, had previously insulted Francis, labeling him an "imbecile" due to the pontiff's emphasis on social justice. However, after Milei's election win, he apologized and met the pope last year. Interestingly, Milei plans to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, adding another layer of complexity to the discussions surrounding Francis's affinity with Argentina.

In the face of this mourning and introspection, the absence of Pope Francis continues to resonate among the Argentine people as they reflect on their connection to a leader who reshaped the Catholic Church's image on the global stage, yet seemingly distanced himself from his roots.