Thousands gathered in Buenos Aires’ iconic Plaza de Mayo on 26 April to mourn Pope Francis, the Argentine-born pontiff whose legacy began in the city’s poorest neighborhoods.
Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva led a deeply emotional outdoor Mass just hours after the pope’s funeral in Rome, calling Francis “the father of us all” and urging Argentines to mourn openly.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis served as archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013, known for his humility, subway rides, and advocacy for the marginalised.
Many remember him for empowering “curas villeros,” priests ministering in the city’s shantytowns.
President Javier Milei, once a fierce critic, called Francis “the most important Argentine in history” and even wept at his funeral.
Following the Mass, crowds marched in symbolic embrace, while San Lorenzo soccer fans honored their beloved papal supporter with statues in the stands.