Vatican City
AP
Pope Francis has tapped an Argentine bishop with years of ministry in the country’s prisons as his successor as Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Bishop 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.
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, on Thursday, 25th May, 2023. PICTURE: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini.
POPE FRANCIS RESUMES REGULAR APPOINTMENTS AFTER CANCELLING SCHEDULE WITH A FEVER
Pope Francis resumed regular appointments on Saturday, one day after canceling his schedule due to a fever.
The pontiff held a number of private meetings, including with visitors from Georgetown University who were in town for a conference with a Jesuit-run journal. According to Vatican News, a number of poets, writers and film directors from around the world attended the conference, including director Martin Scorsese and his family. Francis later was captured on video arriving at the studios of the state broadcaster RAI to tape an interview, smiling animatedly at well-wishers outside.
The Vatican’s confirmation of the 86-year-old Pope’s fever sparked concerns about Francis’ health. The last time he spiked a serious fever, in March, the 86-year-old pontiff was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. He received intravenous antibiotics and was released three days later.
The Vatican has confirmed that the Pope will preside over Pentecost Mass on Sunday, and will meet with Italy’s President, Sergio Mattarella, on Monday.
– Vatican City/AP
The appointment was announced on Friday, a day after Francis repeated that he was looking into visiting Argentina next year. 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 polarisation. 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.
“My idea is to go next year. We’ll see if it’s possible,” Francis told a forum of students.
If he goes, it would fall to García Cuerva to help organise the trip and welcome Francis home.
García Cuerva, a canon lawyer, was first made Bishop of Lomas de Zamora in 2017 and moved to Rio Gallegos two years later. 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.
Francis was archbishop of the Argentine capital from 1998 until he was elected pope in 2013. 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.
