Pope Leo expressed a particular interest in the pastoral projects that the archdiocese carries forward to accompany these situations and encouraged perseverance in this task. Following the exchange, Cardinal Bokalic invited Pope Leo to visit Argentina and the Archdiocese of Santiago del Estero. Buenos Aires, January 12 (NA) – Pope Leo XIV received Cardinal Vicente Bokalic, Archbishop of Santiago del Estero, in a private audience held in a room adjacent to the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. According to the Argentine News Agency, the exchange took place on January 7 and lasted at least half an hour. From the Archdiocese of Santiago del Estero, they revealed that the exchange took place «in a climate of cordiality, listening and deep pastoral closeness». «During the dialogue, the Archbishop of Santiago del Estero was able to share with the Holy Father the pastoral reality of the archdiocese, the situation of the parishes and various aspects of the history of this particular Church, recognized as the Primacy Church of Argentina», they detailed in a press release. In the same vein, they recounted that Pope Leo showed knowledge of the process that led to the recognition of Santiago del Estero as Primacy, initiated during the pontificate of Pope Francis, and «showed particular attention to the current challenges of the archdiocese, especially the decrease in vocations to the priestly and religious life». Likewise, they revealed that the Supreme Pontiff encouraged «the continuity of the permanent diaconate and expressed his support for the diocesan pastoral plan structured around three fundamental axes: mission, youth and synodality». On the other hand, «the reality of young people, marked by the lack of opportunities, the crisis of meaning, structural poverty and the drama of addictions» was part of the agenda. Something that the Holy Father is evaluating.
