'I can only tell you he was a person of extreme faith,' he said. As archbishop, he made a point of ministering to inmates and has continued that tradition as pope, keeping in touch with prisoners in Argentina, visiting prisons during his foreign trips and often celebrating Holy Thursday rituals at detention facilities.He never talked about it, said Nassau County Legis. He has been chaplain in many Argentine prisons, ministering to inmates, and is currently vice president of an international church commission of prison chaplains, the Vatican said.įrancis was archbishop of the Argentine capital from 1998 until he was elected pope in 2013.

García Cuerva, a canon lawyer, was first made bishop of Lomas de Zamora in 2017 and moved to Rio Gallegos two years later. If he goes, it would fall to García Cuerva to help organize the trip and welcome Francis home. We'll see if it's possible,” Francis told a forum of students. But recently, he has indicated an openness to finally go back next year, after a new Argentine president is sworn in following an October election. Francis has kept Argentina at an arms' length for the 10 years of his papacy, apparently not wanting to get drawn into the country's political polarization. The appointment was announced a day after Francis repeated that he was looking into visiting Argentina next year. VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis on Friday tapped an Argentine bishop with years of ministry in the country’s prisons as his successor as archbishop of Buenos Aires, a day after again saying he might finally visit his home country next year.īishop Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, the 55-year-old bishop of Rio Gallegos, will replace the retiring Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli, who turned 75 last year, the Vatican said. Andrew Medichini/AP Show More Show Less 6 of6 Pope Francis attends the world's first meeting of the 'Educational Eco-Cities' promoted by the 'Scholas Occurrentes', at the Vatican, Thursday, May 25, 2023. Andrew Medichini/AP Show More Show Less 5 of6 Pope Francis attends the world's first meeting of the 'Educational Eco-Cities' promoted by the 'Scholas Occurrentes', at the Vatican, Thursday, May 25, 2023. Andrew Medichini/AP Show More Show Less 4 of6 Pope Francis attends the world's first meeting of the 'Educational Eco-Cities' promoted by the 'Scholas Occurrentes', at the Vatican, Thursday, May 25, 2023. Andrew Medichini/AP Show More Show Less 3 of6 Napoli soccer club president Aurelio De Laurentiis presents Pope Francis with a Napoli jersey as they attend the world's first meeting of the 'Educational Eco-Cities' promoted by the 'Scholas Occurrentes', at the Vatican, Thursday, May 25, 2023. Andrew Medichini/AP Show More Show Less 2 of6 Pope Francis, flanked by José María del Corral, president of Scholas Occurrentes, is presented by Napoli soccer club president Aurelio De Laurentiis with a Napoli jersey, during the world's first meeting of the 'Educational Eco-Cities' promoted by the 'Scholas Occurrentes', at the Vatican, Thursday, May 25, 2023. 1 of6 Pope Francis, flanked by José María del Corral, president of Scholas Occurrentes, holds a soccer ball he was gifted as they attend the world's first meeting of the 'Educational Eco-Cities' promoted by the 'Scholas Occurrentes', at the Vatican, Thursday, May 25, 2023.

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