Published: Less than 20 min ago
Pope Francis says he hopes to travel to Argentina in 2024 – which would be the first time he has set foot in his home country since becoming pope a decade ago.
– I want to go to the country next year, he says in an interview for the Argentine daily La Nación.
The 86-year-old pontiff gave no further details about the potential trip, which has long been the subject of speculation in his homeland.
The timing of the visit appears to have been planned to avoid political undertones. In that case, the visit will take place after a new president has been sworn in in December, after a successor to Alberto Fernández was chosen in October. Fernández announced last week that he is not running for re-election.
It was in March that Francis celebrated ten years as pope. Then several of Argentina’s most prominent politicians urged him to visit the country.
In the interview with La Nación, Francis asked Argentines not to associate him with local politics. In several recent interviews, he has repeated that he wishes not to be associated with any party in the polarized South American country. Analysts have pointed out that he may have postponed the visit to ensure that his presence is not exploited politically.