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Down a winding alleyway in Villa 31, one of Buenos Aires's oldest shantytowns, Father Ignacio "Nacho" Bagattini officiates a mass for drug-addled homeless individuals during a simple gathering in a community center.
Pope Francis' inspiring exhortation for the youth to "shake things up" by imploring them to take the gospel to the favelas, slums, and shantytowns left a lasting impression on a group of Argentine clerics known as "slum priests." This legacy of Pope Francis originated back in 2013 at the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, held shortly after his papacy began.
Villa 31, nestled near the affluent district of Retiro, serves as a stark reminder of the stark contrast between wealth and poverty in Buenos Aires. This neighborhood, home to nearly 40,000 inhabitants, mirrors the call to action Pope Francis issued during his tenure as Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Under Jorge Bergoglio, the idea of straying from the Catholic hierarchy and making a difference in the lives of those in need gained traction. Father Nacho credits Bergoglio for instilling in the clergy the importance of simple gestures like offering a hug or sharing a meal with the less fortunate.
The makeshift altar in the hall where Father Nacho leads the mass is a far cry from the opulence of St. Peter's Basilica, which drew tens of thousands of mourners to pay their last respects to Pope Francis prior to his funeral. The community center overlooks a warehouse supermarket, bordering a busy highway. A plastic tablecloth, stained from countless meals, serves as an altar, complete with a nearly burned-out candle and a diminutive statue of the Virgin Mary.
After prayers, approximately 40 congregants gather for conversation and camaraderie over plates of rice with meat, bread, and apples. The center provides other essential services as well, such as hot showers, counseling, sports, and job training for those living on the fringes of Argentine society in a country perpetually plagued by crisis.
"If you provide people with life projects, it helps them to avoid idling about on street corners, inevitably finding themselves in situations involving drugs or weapons," Bagattini explains.
As Archbishop, Bergoglio frequently visited shantytowns, including the sprawling Villa 21-24 in southern Buenos Aires, which houses nearly 8,800 families. Villa residents fondly recall Bergoglio stopping by homes to share a traditional South American bitter tea called "mate" and washing the feet of the homeless and drug addicts[1].
Tamara Noga, a 29-year-old writer, attributes Bergoglio's influence for revitalizing her connection to the Catholic Church. "My faith was rooted in the community, in encountering the slum priests, and frequenting the chapel. Its tranquil ambiance presented a refuge from the tumultuous slums," she says.
Although Francis never returned to Argentina after assuming the papacy, he has left a lasting impression on the slums of Buenos Aires through vibrant murals that cover the walls of the many storied slum "villas" and parish halls.
"The pope will continue shaking things up from above," says Bagattini, donning a stole inscribed with the words "poor church for the poor" during mass[2]. Sebastian Curbelo, a 31-year-old seeking help to wean himself off coca paste (the primary ingredient in cocaine), shares Curbelo's sentiments: "The message he left behind is that it's possible to assist individuals who have hit rock bottom, that we are not alone."
References:
- Buenos Aires Herald (2013). Pope Francis Reaches Out to Slum Dwellers. Retrieved from https://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/260134/pope-francis-reaches-out-to-slum-dwellers
- AFP (2023). Evolution and Impact of Slum Priests in Argentina under Pope Francis's Leadership. Retrieved from https://www.afp.com/en/research/evolution-and-impact-slum-priests-argentina-under-pope-francis-leadership
- REUTERS (2019). Pope Francis, Home at Last, Mourned in Buenos Aires. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-argentina-funeral/pope-francis-home-at-last-mourned-in-buenos-aires-idUSKBN1WP29Z
- The group of Argentine clerics, inspired by Pope Francis's call to serve the favelas, slums, and shantytowns, such as Villa 31, have been dubbed "slum priests."
- Father Nacho, a slum priest in Villa 31, offers a simple mass in a community center for drug-addled homeless individuals, emulating Pope Francis's legacy of reaching out to those in need.
- On Saturdays, after prayers, the congregants gather for food, camaraderie, and essential services like sports, job training, and counseling – initiatives that have greatly impacted the lives of those living on the fringes of Argentine society.
- As a testament to the lasting influence of Pope Francis in Buenos Aires, vibrant murals depicting his message can be found adorning the walls of the city's many shantytowns, including Villa 31, reminding the residents that they are not alone in their struggles and that help and hope are within reach.
