Vatican City, Oct 1, 2016 / 09:01 am
In a special message to his fellow countrymen, Pope Francis said that despite his great desire to return home, he won't be able to go in 2017, as previously hoped, due to commitments in Asia and Africa.
Francis had previously expressed his desire to return to his native Argentina for the country's bicentenary anniversary, as well as the coming beatification of Mama Antula and canonization of Cura Brochero, known as the "Gaucho priest" and who will be the first saint who was born and died in Argentina.
The canonization and beatification, he said, are events "that make our history" and which are "very important and very strong, and which I greatly value."
"Needless to say I had wanted to go to Argentina to beatify Mama Antula and to canonize Cura Brochero, but I couldn't do it, it's not possible," he said.