Jorge Bergoglio has traveled all over the world to 59 countries during his decade long pontificate. One would think that he would have returned to his home country by now. Popes are expected and encouraged to return home to their countrymen who are proud that one of their own sits on the Chair of Peter. It’s a memorable and jubilant celebration for the Catholic faith and the home country, as the pontifical native son returns for the inevitable triumphant visit.
Bergoglio’s curious avoidance of Argentina prompts some serious questions—ones which should have been addressed by the Papal Conclave in 2013.
Pope John Paul II traveled to his home of Poland 9 times during his pontificate. The crowds jammed the roads and millions attended his masses with an outpouring of love and devotion. Pope Benedict XVI visited his beloved Germany 3 times to swarms of adoring countrymen. These were joyous and sentimental events for the people and the pontiffs. Yet, Francis has steered clear of his home country even when he was in the geographic neighborhood of Argentina. Curiously, he visited neighboring Latin American countries of Argentina, but didn’t visit Argentina during papal trips to South America:
- Brazil: July 2013
- Bolivia: July 2015
- Ecuador: July 2015
- Paraguay: July 2015
- Colombia: September 2017
- Chile: January 2018
- Peru: January 2018
After all, Bergoglio, the Argentine is the Pope. He has a travel office and a Secretary of State office that arrange his overseas visits. On staff are speechwriters and advance people that facilitate these trips. Once arrangements are made the pope’s team orders up Shepherd One and off he goes. No one would begrudge him a trip or two to his homeland to see his beloved Buenos Aires, where his elderly sister, relatives and friends reside.
Did Bergoglio leave Argentina with bad blood among factions in the Church?
It is beyond strange that Bergoglio hasn’t graced his nation with a visit. This week on the tenth anniversary of his papal election, he provided what can only be described as another convoluted and tortured explanation of his failure to return home to Argentina for a visit. Read this short and bizarre response to an interview by an Argentine reporter who asked him why he hasn’t visited his country of Argentina.
Speaking of Argentina, the inevitable question about a possible trip to his home country came up. Bergoglio responded:
"It was planned for December 2017," Jorge Mario Bergoglio explained, repeating what he had already said on the flight back from Iraq: "We would first go to Chile, then to Argentina and Uruguay. That was the schedule. But what happened? There were elections at that time, so we had to move Chile to December and then go to Argentina and Uruguay in January. Then, the programme changed and Chile and Peru were organised, leaving Argentina and Uruguay for later… There is no refusal to go-in no form. The trip was planned. I am open to the opportunity... I want to go to Argentina."
Are you buying the couldn’t fit Argentina into my schedule excuse? Sounds pretty lame. In January 2018, he flew 16 hours from Rome to Chile. Yet while next door in Chile, Francis couldn’t squeeze in a less than 2 hour plane trip from Santiago, Chile to Buenos Aires, Argentina? That is odd.
His cold and dispassionate statement of “I am open to the opportunity” doesn’t sound like a man who is anxious to return to his ancestral home of 76 years. Something strange is going on with the couldn’t fit Argentina into my schedule excuse.
Can Bergoglio afford for the global media to descend on Buenos Aires, asking questions of locals, interviewing his former friends, colleagues and parishioners and generally snooping around?
Bergoglio’s curious avoidance of Argentina prompts some serious questions—ones which should have been addressed by the Papal Conclave in 2013.
Has Bergoglio been told to stay away from Argentina?
Would enemies of Bergoglio cause a public scene if he returned to Buenos Aires?
Did Bergoglio leave Argentina with bad blood among factions in the Church?
Are there dark secrets about Bergoglio that may surface should he return like the conquering hero?
Is Bergoglio fearful that he would not receive a warm and large welcome from his fellow Argentines?
Is Bergoglio not viewed as merciful and joyful by his native Argentines? Would this risk damaging his carefully curated media image as the smiling merciful pope?
Can Bergoglio afford for the global media to descend on Buenos Aires, asking questions of locals, interviewing his former friends, colleagues and parishioners and generally snooping around?
Is Bergoglio afraid of the wrath of clergy abuse victims who were ignored, scorned, and dismissed by him when he was Bishop and Archbishop of Buenos Aires?
Is Bergoglio fearful of the messages on the homemade signs along the parade route?
Is Bergoglio afraid of the Mothers of the Playa de Mayo whose children were killed by the military junta and his role with the junta?
Is Bergoglio afraid that there may be significant protests and boycotts if he visits Buenos Aires?
Is Bergoglio afraid of the wrath of clergy abuse victims who were ignored, scorned, and dismissed by him when he was Bishop and Archbishop of Buenos Aires?
What are Bergoglio's skeletons that need to be kept hidden and buried in Buenos Aires and can’t risk being unearthed by a papal visit?
Something is rotten in Buenos Aires.