"It was a free, fraternal and spontaneous dialogue" "The newspaper The capital of Mar del Plata

Bishop Gabriel Mestre, Bishop of the Diocese of Mar del Plata, expressed his satisfaction after the meeting with Pope Francis in Rome as part of the "ad limina" visit, together with other bishops from different parts of the country.

Mestre said that during the two hours that the meeting lasted, they spoke "in a very free, fraternal, spontaneous and profound way of the different questions relating to the life of the Church and to the contextual reality of each of the dioceses . "

"It was a very beautiful moment, very faithful, spiritual, profound and at the same time human, sensitive and close," he said in a message sent to the community of Mar del Plata.

Mestre said the bishops had reiterated to Francisco the invitation to come to Argentina. "We reminded him that it was his house and that we liked him a lot," he said.

In reference to a possible visit to Argentina, Mestre did not fail to remind him of the visit of the Apostolic Nuncio to Argentina, Monsignor Léon Kalenga Badikebele, who visited Mar del Plata in February.

"I told him about the experience of the pbadage of the Apostolic Nuncio, as a representative of the Pope, to the affection and affection of the people whom he saw during the visit that he made. He made it to the cathedral and to Lourdes, which shows how much our people love the pope, even if sometimes so positive from certain areas, "said the bishop.

Referring to Francisco 's response, Mestre said that he "clearly stated that it was an item on the agenda".

"As I have already said on other occasions, the pope gives priority to" smaller places, like those where the church is tiny. "

The bishop of Mar del Plata revealed that the meeting was an "open agenda" and that "no one had a role to play".

"We were able to dialogue, to do a sort of ping-pong where the bishops raised different questions and where the pope spoke," he said, explaining that it was "about questions". education, work, drugs, evangelism, dignity, catechesis, faith, different themes that have to do with the task of the Church ".

In addition, during the meeting, they discussed "the difficulties we encounter in more complex issues such as the formation of future pastors, the defense and care of life or the reality of abuse". "All the themes have been treated freely, in depth and in a synodal way, that is, to the voice of all, without taboos or fears," he said.

For his part, Mestre said to perceive the pope "with an optimal state of health, very jovial, funny as always and deeply convinced that what he saw is what God gives him at this moment".

"He told us more than once that the peace that he felt when he was appointed was the same as that felt by the pope right now when he had to accomplish so many complex things in life. of the Church, "he added.

During the previous meeting with Pope Francis, the bishops shared Mbad on the tomb of St. Peter.
"We were able to pray here for the Church, for the unity of the Church, for the dioceses and for the reality of the motherland and the world," said the minister. Bishop, adding that they were echoing the commemoration of Labor Day. "The complex reality at work in our country" for what they asked "for the poorest and most needy brothers and for the long-awaited justice we need in our country".

The pontiff met for two hours at the Vatican Apostolic Palace with 31 bishops from the first group of more than 100 people who, between April and May, will go "ad limina" to the Vatican to visit the main bodies of the Holy See. Seat.

In addition to Gabriel Mestre, Archbishops Víctor Fernández de La Plata are among the first group of 31 bishops who visited Pope Francis yesterday. Andrés Stanovnik of Corrientes; Carlos Azpiroz Costa, of Bahía Blanca; Juan Puiggari from Paraná; Eduardo Martín of Rosario; Sergio Fenoy of Santa Fe and Ramón Dus de Resistencia, and the Bishop of Chascomús and Secretary General of the Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA), Carlos Malfa.

Established in the Code of Canon Law, the so-called "ad limina apostolorum" visit – a Latin expression that means "the thresholds" (basilicas) of the Apostles (Peter and Paul) – is made every five years by all the bishops of the world . years to report on the state of their dioceses.

The last ad limina visit of CEA members dates back to 2009, when the pope was Benedict XVI and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio presided over this institution.

The pope expressed his desire to visit Argentina, but there was no sign

Pope Francis told the group of 31 Argentine bishops that he had received the Vatican's "desire" to visit the country, even though, according to pastors, there is still "no sign of yes or no" about a possible trip of the pontiff to 2020

"The pope has expressed his desire to visit us several times, but the difficulty is an agenda," said archbishop of Corrientes Andrés Stanovnik during a conversation with the Argentine media at the press. 39 from the two-hour meeting during which Francisco expressed his sorrow over the "polarization" "existing in Argentina.

"We have no indication in ourselves or by ourselves, we only know that it is very difficult," said Archbishop of La Plata, Víctor Manuel Fernández, at the same time. a meeting with the press, questioned about the possible return of Jorge Bergoglio to his native country. next year

According to the Archbishop of Corrientes, the political reality of the country "did not appear as a subject, but was evoked by a bishop referring to the reality of his own diocese, but he did not not taken a public status when meeting with the pope ".

In this context, according to Fernandez, the pontiff heard some bishops talk about the "concern for the existence of some social tension" in Argentina.

"There is already a polarization in Argentina and in the case of the abortion discussion, for example, it has been even more affirmed.The Pope said that it hurt because it makes young people reluctant to us. listen after this period of so many discussions and with such strength, "said the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Fernandez recalled that the bishops had already "repeatedly" invited the pontiff to visit the country, although "we must badume that he had already given much in Argentina." Today, on many subjects , we would need a word, we could read what he said when he was there and we would have answers. "

"As Argentines, we must understand this and understand that Argentina, with its richness and culture of dialogue, can benefit others," said the Archbishop of La Plata.

"The pope has repeatedly insisted on the subject of education, its importance and its serious shortcomings, and he has been very emphatic about this issue," said the archbishop of the coastal city.

The first group of Argentine bishops will complete their visit to the Vatican on Saturday, then come another group of 29 pastors, chaired by CEA President Oscar Ojea, who will see the Pope on Friday 10 at 10 am.