Ok. This is of course a subject that can’t be missed. We have a new pope. He is Argentine. I am an immigrant in Argentina. So he is kind of ‘my pope’.
Although I really didn’t see it like that at all, quite on the contrary. I was out having lunch with a friend when text messages from Belgium started coming in. Actually ‘started coming in’ is not quite the correct way to put it. All of a sudden it seemed like my phone was about to explode with incoming messages : I was forced to turn it off in order not to molest my neighbors in the restaurant. I received messages from family, friends and far acquaintances in Belgium, all congratulating me on the new pope. What? Me? Why? What connection do I have with this new pope anyway? It is not like I knew him or that he has become pope because of my doing.
But after a while I got used to the congratulations and accepted them gladly. From Belgians I heard that all they talk about in the news is Argentina… not just the pope but also about his country of origin. That maybe he might bring some Argentine tradition into Europe. So some journalist has also realized that Argentina (the Argentines) are not just different but we Europeans might actually learn something from them? Hmmm. Interesting. (Maybe I am not mad after all, having moved to this country. Hehe)
Since that day, all the papers talked about is this new pope, the leader of 1,2 billion people. Whatever he does is broadcasted live on TV. This quite puts his rival, the president, into the shade, with only 40 million Argentines to rule over. It has been extremely quiet around her, the only way for for her to get back into the spotlight was to fly to Rome and meet the pope personally. It looks like Francis I, from one day into the next, has become the most famous Argentine. More famous then Maxima and probably more famous then Maradona and Messi. And as if there aren’t yet enough public holidays in this country, last Friday the minister of education thought it was necessary to ad a new one. Tomorrow there is no school so everyone can watch the papal inauguration. I suppose the economy would have been down anyway, as this is probably a unique event for the Argentines.
Whatever can be said about the election of Francis I, one thing is certain : it has put Argentina on the map. It was a far away and quite exotic country, but now it has come a lot closer, and at least it has become visible. I wonder what the influence will be in the long run. Argentines at least hope that he will bring change in this god forsaken country. And me, I hope so too. They could use some change around here.
The Feel Good Way 
12 responses to “Habemus Papam”
Segun Emilio Mignone (“Iglesia y Dictadura,” 1986), el Papa Paco tiene ciertos antecedentes…actualmente al centro de una polemica de alcance mundial. Muy interesante es el apoyo total de “Pino” Solanas y ciertas otras voces de la izquierda…!
yep, they seem to forgive his past…
Hi, Katti: I like your letters. Thank you for sharing. I,unlike you, left Argentina as an 18 year old student and came to the USA for college studies. I stayed in the USA and go home only for vacations. I want to tell you that Pope Francis is the first Pope to choose the name Francis, so he does not have to be called Francis I; he is the first. I think he is going to be a blessing of God and a great leader for the catholics of the world.
Best regards,
Lou
Hi Lou, thanks for your post!
Since a local texan newsflash located Argentina as a town on Southern Ecuador (which also exists, really; hay que ser justos) next to the Indian Ocean, I cannot help but doubt that the Pope will put Argentina “on the map”.
Or maybe it is that americans are really dumb. Go figure.
Hahaha!
Argentines at least hope that he will bring change in this god forsaken country? This is a great country and I love it, it’s not forsaken, and if you feel that way, I don’t understand what you are still doing here.
No need to be overtly nationalistic. Would somebody move its entire life to country that has been Godforsaken? I think it was merely a figure of speech 🙂
I first heard this joke in Cordoba in 1977: When God created Argentina, he gave it everything–tropical forests, soaring mountains, rich soil, oil and gas, glaciers, lakes…and the Archangel Gabriel timidly approached Him and said “Boss, I know you’re in charge, but don’t you think you’re overdoing it, giving Argentina absolutely everything?””Don’t worry,” replied God. “I’m putting Argentines there. Watch them ruin it!”
I know this one, but this is joke that only Argentines can tell, hehe. It is funny though! 😉
Indeed hehe, thanks 😉
I’m not nationalistic. I approve people coming and going wherever they want to, I have a lot of classmates that come to study here because they don’t have universities as good as uba for example and I think this is great, we all learn from meeting people that’s not from the same place or culture you are but I think we’re already on the map and that saying this country is forsaken and needs a “change” (and not what the change is) is not a very constructive thought.