Bishops ask the pope to "not deprive himself of joy" to visit the country

BUENOS AIRES, 13 (NA) – The Bishops of the Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA) today announced that at the next meeting with Pope Francis, between the end of April and the beginning of May, they would propose that "he does not deprive himself of joy to visit Argentina for the first time in her pontificate, which celebrated her sixth birthday on Wednesday.

"Congratulations on the sixth anniversary of your pontificate, as his work continues to be a source of example and hope in the world," said President Mauricio Macri via his Twitter account.

In a letter addressed to the Vatican, the bishops addressed their "affectionate and fraternal" greetings, while stressing their "exemplary austerity, their tireless determination, their constant availability, many details and delicacies with so many people and situations appearing spontaneously in their memory ".

"His peace and strength transmit us in the midst of great challenges, such as the painful tragedy of abuse, he has a look that goes beyond the immediate and knows how to say a word illuminating the walls that often stop us. Without neglecting respect for people, his teachings were embodied in so many gestures and words that moved us, "said the members of the Argentine bishops.

And they added: "As a global reference, he proposed a clear, gentle, confident and cautious dialogue, bringing together the most diverse interlocutors. He put joy in the Church, the joy of the Gospel, because he finally invited us to look at the essential: the Father God who loves us, the living Christ who saves us. & # 39;

On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of his pontificate, the CEA declared: "We can not stop saying that all this happens in a very Argentine pope, with his malice, his good mood, his spark and results that "identify, by inventing words or phrases all the time." "We imagine the joy that Francisco had when he decided to canonize the Cura Brochero, to beatify Mama Antula and martyrs of Riojano. next meeting with him, we will propose once again that he does not deprive himself of the joy of visiting us, "said the bishops, in a kind of invitation to Argentina.

Since March 13, 2013, when white smoke followed its formalization as Benedict XVI's successor, Jorge Bergoglio did not return to his original country, even though he was Several times very close, in geographical terms: he went to Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. , Ecuador, Chile, Mexico and Cuba.

CEA members will travel to Vatican City from April 28 to May 18, during the first ad limina visit in the Francis era: "The bishops will make a pilgrimage to Rome, presenting a detailed report on the pastoral reality of the past. each of the peoples ". Diocese of the country, "explained the Church.