Overview
- Cardinal Vicente Bokalic met privately with the pope on January 7 and conveyed a formal invitation, after which the Holy See acknowledged the possibility is under consideration for the papal agenda.
- Bokalic asked that a potential visit begin in Santiago del Estero and presented a poncho in Argentina’s colors, underscoring the province’s link to the newly canonized Mama Antula.
- The discussion focused on pastoral and social challenges in Argentina, including youth marginalization, structural poverty, addictions and declining priestly vocations.
- Church sources stress there is no confirmation, date or itinerary, and note a state invitation and Vatican scheduling remain prerequisites.
- Analysts highlight recent gestures—such as a papal letter to the Unión Industrial Argentina and continuity with plans from the previous pontificate—as signs the country is under evaluation, with any visit set to be the first by a pope since 1987 if it occurs.