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As Pope Francis recovers off ventilation, his condition shows slight stability. At 88, he has led the Catholic Church for 12 years but has never returned to his native Argentina.
Now hospitalized for a lingering respiratory illness that stems from a pulmonary infection in his youth, the Pope has been at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital since February 14.
His more than two-week stay is the longest of his papacy, highlighting his frailty and making a return to Argentina increasingly unlikely.
In Buenos Aires, Argentinians express sadness as they have long awaited his visit since he left in 2013 to lead the Church.
Despite making over 45 international trips—including historic visits to Iraq, the UAE, Myanmar, and Mongolia—Francis has never gone back to Argentina.
This has been documented by Jimmy Burns OBE, author of the 2015 biography Francis, Pope Of Good Promise: “One of the great curiosities of his papacy was the fact that, unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis never visited his native country.” Burns believes the pontiff avoided returning to avoid being seen as taking sides in Argentina’s polarized political climate.
Many in Argentina had anticipated a visit after his election and again in 2024, but both never materialized. Father Guillermo Marco, a former spokesman for the Pope, told Reuters that it has been a “wasted opportunity” for Argentina. The Pope, he said, had a tango soul but knew that political factions would exploit his visit.
Last September, Pope Francis expressed a desire to return, saying, “They are my people,” but noted unresolved matters. Now, with his health in decline, a visit seems more improbable than ever. Still, the Catholic Church remains focused on praying for his recovery as speculation grows about his possible retirement. TRACY CABRERA