Some 2,000 faithful Catholics gathered this Saturday in Luján, Argentina, to celebrate the 10 years of papacy of Franciscoconvened by a “villero” priest who raises awareness about the scourge of drugs in the poorest neighborhoods.
Under the motto “Not a kid, not a girl less for drugs” and with a call for unity to the Argentines, the priest José Di Paola, known as Father Pepe, celebrated a crowded mass in front of the famous Basilica of Our Lady of Lujánpatron saint of Argentina, 70 km from Buenos Aires.
Father Pepe is a member of the movement of “villeros” priests, named for his work focused on the shanty towns (favelas) that had strong support from Jorge Bergoglio when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires, before being elected pope. on March 13, 2013.
“The Pope intensified faith and called on young people to participate. The Church was a bit distant from young people and now that bond is closer. It is a great job that the Pope has done,” said Francisco Rolón, 62 years, a popular economy worker present at the mass on a torrid afternoon, with temperatures of more than 38 degrees unusual for the end of summer.
Another mass will be celebrated on Sunday inside the Basilica of Luján, a regular destination for massive annual pilgrimages. The celebrations for the anniversary will culminate on Monday with a mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Capital, which in the past housed the pope.
take apart and build
Tamara Barbará, 41-year-old president of the Afro-Argentine Pastoral, expressed her “pride for having an Argentine pope who shows that path that disarms and builds at the same time.”
If the first Latin American pope in history lacks something, it is that he make a visit to his native country, said Barbara, who is excited that this trip will be in 2025 when the Afro-Latin American Pastoral Meeting is held in Argentina.
“It would be essential that he come to visit us to give him a nice hug, that he deserves it, for what it means to be an Argentine and Latin American pope. Let him know that what he has built in these 10 years is this heart, this brotherhood,” he said.
For the social worker and former Catholic priest Guillermo Schefer, Francisco “is a beacon, an inspiration, who will be remembered in history.”
A member of the Latin American Federation of Married Priests, Schefer sided with the pope’s “must” on the issue of sexual abuse within the Church. “He took an important step, but there is still a lot to work on,” he told AFP.
“Not only forgiveness but in concrete gestures, that Francisco could take actions so that a response is not only sought within the Catholic institution for him and for the victims, but also before the ordinary courts for the victims and for him.”
In another ceremony in Luján in the morning, Father Pepe, who leads the Hogares de Cristo Federation, signed the commitment “Not one kid, not one girl less for drugs” with President Alberto Fernández.
“10 years have passed since the papacy of Francisco, the greatest moral leader the world has. “No one is saved alone,” he said. And I always repeat it. Let’s put individualism aside and build a more supportive Argentina,” Fernández tweeted about the act.
