Thousands of mourners gathered across different points of Buenos Aires City to pay tribute to Pope Francis, the Argentine pontiff who became the first leader of the Catholic Church to hail from Latin America.

One of the focal points was the San José Church in Flores, the neighborhood where the pope was born and raised. Many people attended the day of prayer that ended with an evening mass presided over by Buenos Aires City Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva.

“There is much darkness and sadness, but we do not lose hope in meeting again,” García Cuerva said in his homily, adding that “everything is not lost” as Francis continues to be “light in the middle of darkness.” Among those in attendance were Vice President Victoria Villarruel, national deputy Leandro Santoro, and Argentine Nobel Peace Prize recipient Adolfo Pérez Esquivel. 

The religious ceremony ended on a turbulent note as Villarruel, the highest government figure in attendance, was booed on her way out. Escorted by police, she was showered with chants of “traitor” by people on the entrance steps as she made her way to the official convoy. 

Mourners also flocked to the Buenos Aires Cathedral. García Cuerva officiated the first mass in remembrance of Francis at 8.30 a.m. Mayor Jorge Macri was the highest-profile leader in attendance, as no senior officials of the national government were present. As the day went on, flowers, candles, and messages in remembrance of the pope began to mount on the parish steps. 

Iconic city buildings like the Planetarium and the Obelisk showed projections of Francis across their facades. A mapping made up of the pope’s face and one of his most famous lines, “Pray for me,” lit up the night sky around the Obelisk as many arrived to pay their respects.

A country in mourning

Argentine football club San Lorenzo also paid homage to the pope, who was an ardent fan of the club.

“He wasn’t just any fan, and he was always one of us,” reads the club’s post on X. San Lorenzo authorities also announced that they will hold a mass on Wednesday at the site where the club was originally founded. Earlier on Monday, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced that all football fixtures would be postponed as a mark of respect.

Hundreds of people gathered in the Lomas de Zamora Cathedral, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. As the church filled with the sound of the faithful singing “He lives, he lives, Jesus our Lord,” many others silently cried, listening from the doors due to the amount of people. After the service ended, people lined up to say their goodbyes before a picture of the pope.

“It’s a very sad day for the entire Catholic community,” Carmen Benítez, one of the women in attendance, told the Herald. “He was a very open pope who walked around and wanted a better world, especially for the poor.”

Earlier on Monday, President Javier Milei declared seven days of mourning for the Argentine people to commemorate the pope. This means that all official activity has been cancelled and public buildings in the country will have their flag at half-mast in a sign of respect. Milei, however, was not present at any of the public memorials throughout the city. The president will fly to Rome on Thursday to attend the funeral on Saturday

Around the globe, numerous vigils were promptly set up, with thousands of Catholics from various backgrounds celebrating his papacy in unison. 

In Paris, the bells of Notre Dame Cathedral rang 88 times in accordance with the late pope’s age at the time of his passing. A large portrait of the pope was placed inside the cathedral. The lights of the Eiffel Tower were also extinguished early as a mark of respect. 

Cover photo: Mourners in the San José parish. Credit: Mariano Fuchila. Reporting from Lomas de Zamora by Martina Jaureguy