Pope Leo XIV received Cardinal Vicente Bokalic, Archbishop of Santiago del Estero and Primate of Argentina, in a private audience on January 7th, in a meeting that once again places on the table the possibility of a pontifical trip to the South American country, a matter long awaited in the Argentine ecclesiastical sphere.
As is customary in this type of audience, the Vatican Press Office limited itself to confirming the meeting without offering details. However, it was the primatial archdiocese itself that later specified that Cardinal Bokalic formally invited the Pontiff to visit Argentina, with special reference to Santiago del Estero, the historic seat of the country’s first diocese.
According to the archdiocesan statement, Leo XIV welcomed the invitation with pleasure and indicated that the possibility of including Argentina in his pastoral agenda is being considered. The statement, prudent but significant, comes in a context of renewed expectations following the change of pontificate.
A trip in continuity with his gaze toward Latin America
The eventual visit to Argentina fits into a broader attention from the Pope toward Latin America. In November 2025, before undertaking an apostolic trip to Turkey and Lebanon, Leo XIV publicly expressed his desire to return to the continent, mentioning specific destinations such as the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
Santiago del Estero and the symbolic weight of the primacy
During the approximately thirty minutes that the audience lasted, Cardinal Bokalic presented to the Pope the pastoral reality of the primatial archdiocese, including the situation of the parishes and the main challenges facing the local Church. Leo XIV demonstrated detailed knowledge of the process that led to the recognition of Santiago del Estero as the primatial see, a decision adopted in July 2024 during the pontificate of Francis.
The transfer of the primacy from Buenos Aires had strong symbolic value, by recognizing the first diocese erected in Argentine territory, although it did not imply jurisdictional modifications. The issue remains, however, a relevant point of reference in the ecclesiastical life of the country.
Vocations, clergy, and pastoral challenges
According to the information disseminated by the archdiocese, Leo XIV showed particular attention to the decrease in priestly vocations, a concern shared by many dioceses in the region. In this context, he encouraged the continuity of the permanent diaconate and expressed his support for the diocesan pastoral plan, structured around three axes: mission, youth, and synodality.
Likewise, the dialogue addressed the difficulties affecting young people, such as the lack of job opportunities and the increase in addictions, as well as the need to strengthen the ongoing formation of priests, at a time when pastoral burnout and doctrinal confusion pose no small challenges.
Prudent expectation
Although no specific dates or itineraries have been announced, the meeting between Leo XIV and Cardinal Bokalic has reactivated the expectation of a pontifical visit to Argentina. For now, the Vatican maintains its usual prudence, but the fact that the Pope himself has acknowledged that the possibility is under study constitutes a significant gesture.