Fr. Łukasz Bankowski – Vatican City
After 39 years of waiting
For local Catholics, this will be an event awaited for generations. The last Pope to visit Argentina was St. John Paul II. After 39 years, the country is preparing to welcome his successor.
The anticipation for Leo XIV brings to mind the words that John Paul II addressed to Argentine clergy and consecrated persons on April 10, 1987, at the Vélez Sarsfield Stadium in Buenos Aires. “Live by hope, not letting yourselves be overcome by discouragement, fatigue, or criticism,” the Pope encouraged at the time.
He reminded them that the world, despite appearances, still feels a “hunger for God,” and the credibility of evangelization is born from the witness of life and prayer. He also called for joint, persevering evangelizing work. This message resonates with the current expectations of Fr. Zubik: that the papal visit will strengthen the faithful in their difficulties and rekindle their missionary zeal.
On the road of the disciples of Emmaus
Preparations involve the entire Church community. The Bishops’ Conference of Argentina has prepared catechesis for children, youth, students, adults, consecrated persons, and the clergy. The series “Following Jesus in the Company of Pope Leo” is based on the Gospel story of the disciples heading to Emmaus.
The path leads from sadness and disappointment, through listening to the Risen One, to recognizing Him and undertaking a shared mission. In the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Villa Ángela, in the Chaco province, all groups have been working with this material since August.
“The prepared catechetical material helps us understand the role of the Holy Father. As the Vicar of Christ and the successor of St. Peter, he strengthens his brothers in the faith,” explains the Redemptorist.
A faith that will withstand the test
It is precisely the strengthening of faith that Fr. Zubik particularly expects from the papal journey. As he notes, the challenge in his pastoral environment is the activity of religious groups promising quick solutions to problems: health, money, and prosperity.
The missionary describes these promises as a “theology of success” – a vision of Christianity stripped of the cross and the dimension of suffering. People in difficult situations look to them for immediate help.
“People are generally very religious, but they lack constancy in times of trial,” he says. He hopes that the catechesis and the meeting with the Pope will help the faithful persevere in Christ and awaken the enthusiasm to share their faith.
Three priests and over 400 laypeople
The parish where the Polish Redemptorist serves covers a city of 70,000 residents with ten churches and sixteen chapels in rural areas. Only three Redemptorists work there. A vast share of the responsibility is undertaken by the laity: over 400 catechists, animators, and coordinators.
The SINE system (Integral System of New Evangelization), introduced 13 years ago, helps transform the sprawling parish into a community of small evangelizing communities. Currently, there are nearly sixty of them. There are also forty different pastoral ministries.
It is precisely within these communities that preparation for the papal visit is maturing – through prayer, reflection, and joint trip planning.
Four buses for the meeting
As Fr. Zubik reports, the travel schedule includes Leo XIV’s presence in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and the national Marian shrine in Luján. In addition to the Eucharist and meetings with authorities, the clergy, and youth, visits to a prison and a care home run by the Orionines are planned.
From Villa Ángela, two buses will set off for Buenos Aires, and another two for Córdoba. Around 250 people will travel on them. Other parishioners will arrive in their own cars.
“We expect that both the proposed catechesis and the long-awaited visit of the Pope will strengthen the Catholic faith of the faithful and bring enthusiasm to share it with everyone,” emphasizes the Polish missionary.
