Sorry, you're right. I mixed up Alfonsín and Menem, hyperinflation occured during Alfonsín and the fallout of Menem's tight monetary policy was rising poverty (we've updated it accordingly). He did not lose the election, he completed his two terms and stepped down. Then, in 2003 he lost the presidential primary of the Partido Justicialista against Néstor Kirchner.
Largely because we don't see how those things are connected to the pope's decision not to travel to Argentina. How do you see them connected, Nicholas?
Because a trip to Argentina may well draw new and increased attention to these matters that Pope Francis or others at the Vatican would prefer not to occur. Certainly renewed media coverage and potentially even public protests would not be impossible. I do not think that it is a difficult or illogical inference that this might make the Holy Father less likely to return to his home country.
Argentina took an authoritarian turn in 1946 and has never looked back. Utterly tragic. And a useful lesson for those who think that any alternative to democratic capitalism can lead to prosperity and genuine protection of human rights.
We were used to Benedict XVI and JPII having a great love of the region they came from. Benedict in particular was Bavarian to his fingertips. Whatever reason Francis has for not going back, he certainly doesn’t appear to miss Argentina or feel any special responsibility to Argentinians. Maybe he’s just not a people person.
Very informative article, thank you. I can't help but wondering if the Church (and Cardinal Bergoglio in particular) had always emphasised Christ crucified and the salvific mission of the Church, that he would be less likely to be used by any party. Pope John Paul II (both while cardinal in Poland and as pope) stayed pretty much on message, and traveled to the most hostile places to evangelise. It seems that Jesus alone can straddle the Crack (since both lower and middle classes claim for the most part to be Catholic).
I confess that I have no access to his homilies while he lived there, but the significant decline in vocations indicates that the local church may have lost its way.
Sorry, you're right. I mixed up Alfonsín and Menem, hyperinflation occured during Alfonsín and the fallout of Menem's tight monetary policy was rising poverty (we've updated it accordingly). He did not lose the election, he completed his two terms and stepped down. Then, in 2003 he lost the presidential primary of the Partido Justicialista against Néstor Kirchner.
This was an informative deep-dive into something I knew nothing about. Thank you, Edgar!
No mention of the Holy Father’s record regarding clerical abuse cases while Archbishop or the appalling Zanchetta case
Largely because we don't see how those things are connected to the pope's decision not to travel to Argentina. How do you see them connected, Nicholas?
Because a trip to Argentina may well draw new and increased attention to these matters that Pope Francis or others at the Vatican would prefer not to occur. Certainly renewed media coverage and potentially even public protests would not be impossible. I do not think that it is a difficult or illogical inference that this might make the Holy Father less likely to return to his home country.
could be a part of it. The pope has not seemed to have too much concern with public perception re Zanchetta, but you might be right.
It's a part of it. The absence of any mention of these grave Argentine scandals from the report is depressing.
Fascinating! Thank you for the background. I imagine it would be difficult for anyone to be away from their homeland for so long.
Great article and nice tie in of "just around the corner" at the end (found that very satisfying), thanks.
Pope Francis as ever remains inscrutable. My bet is that he does not visit.
Argentina took an authoritarian turn in 1946 and has never looked back. Utterly tragic. And a useful lesson for those who think that any alternative to democratic capitalism can lead to prosperity and genuine protection of human rights.
We were used to Benedict XVI and JPII having a great love of the region they came from. Benedict in particular was Bavarian to his fingertips. Whatever reason Francis has for not going back, he certainly doesn’t appear to miss Argentina or feel any special responsibility to Argentinians. Maybe he’s just not a people person.
He's a 'people person' when it comes to settling scores and collecting damaging information that might come in useful one day.
Very informative article, thank you. I can't help but wondering if the Church (and Cardinal Bergoglio in particular) had always emphasised Christ crucified and the salvific mission of the Church, that he would be less likely to be used by any party. Pope John Paul II (both while cardinal in Poland and as pope) stayed pretty much on message, and traveled to the most hostile places to evangelise. It seems that Jesus alone can straddle the Crack (since both lower and middle classes claim for the most part to be Catholic).
I confess that I have no access to his homilies while he lived there, but the significant decline in vocations indicates that the local church may have lost its way.