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Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mar 19, 2025 / 15:45 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis has gifted the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to him by former U.S. President Joe Biden to the metropolitan cathedral of Buenos Aires. 

The medal is the highest honor given to a civilian by the United States, which the former president in January, before leaving office, decided to bestow upon the Holy Father, announcing the award by telephone.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction recognizes "individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant social, public, or private endeavors" and has been awarded only 55 times.

In presenting the award to the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the White House noted that Jorge Bergoglio "for decades served the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina. As Pope Francis, his mission of serving the poor has never ceased. A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children's questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths."

"The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis is unlike any who came before. Above all, he is the People's Pope — a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world," the White House stated at the time.

Addressing the pontiff on X, Biden said "your humility and your grace are beyond words, and your love for all is unparalleled. As the People's Pope, you are a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world. Today, it was my honor to award His Holiness Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction."

After receiving this recognition, the Holy Father decided to send the medal to the Buenos Aires cathedral, where he served as archbishop and cardinal primate until the conclave that elected him the successor of Peter in 2013.

The cathedral's ceremony to receive the medal took place on March 13, the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis' election, during a Mass of thanksgiving for his pontificate.

Upon receiving it, Father Alejandro Russo, rector of the cathedral, said: "Note how today we view this award that the pope has received from President Biden of the United States as a symbol, simply beyond any nation that could have done so, and any president who could do so."

"The pope must accompany, lead, and preside over the Church and the sheep of Christ's flock. But it is also the pope's role, as the clear presence of the voice of Jesus Christ in time, to bring the mystery and preaching of the Gospel through justice and peace, through human elements, but which are certainly clear conditions for the life and establishment of the Gospel in time to the rest of the world," he explained.

The Holy Father, he added, "preaches, brings justice, peace, and truth to all areas of life. The Holy Father is present in the various situations of conflict, and the Holy Father is present in the preaching of justice and truth in the various area of public life, when he is invited, when he visits, when he is in different realities. And the Holy Father is present there, also giving a new imprint to this preaching, to this landing of the kingdom in the temporal." 

"Wanting to take away this mission from the Church, wanting to take away this mission of preaching justice and truth, is wanting to separate her from the mission that Jesus himself gave her. Wanting the pope to remain available only inside St. Peter's Basilica, merely to issue rules and regulate the internal life of the Church, is wanting to obscure the figure of the pastor, the figure of the representative of Jesus that Christ himself intended," Russo noted.

"And so we give thanks on this 12th anniversary, receiving this award. But we give thanks because Pope Francis had the courage to preach justice, to preach the truth, to be present in armed conflicts to try to help resolve them; that Pope Francis also had the courage to make it an issue throughout the world the ecological care of our common home; that Pope Francis had the courage to bring the preaching of the Gospel into the temporal realm," he summarized.

"We ask God then, in these days, as we continue to pray for the pope, that he may continue to recover, for the presence of Pope Francis in the Catholic Church," Russo prayed, and quoting the archbishop of Buenos Aires, he prayed "that oxygen may be taken in by the pope's lungs, that the pope, who, thank God, gave so much oxygen to the Church, may be healed."

This is the second time a pope has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The first was presented by George W. Bush to John Paul II during a visit to the Vatican in 2004.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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CNA Newsroom, Mar 19, 2025 / 09:25 am (CNA).

Writing from Gemelli Hospital, Pope Francis emphasized the role of hope in vocational discernment in his message for the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations released by the Vatican on Wednesday.

"Vocation is a precious gift that God sows in hearts, a call to step outside oneself to undertake a journey of love and service," wrote Francis in his address on March 19.

The hospitalized pope described how vocations develop through "trust in providence" and said Christian hope goes beyond optimism to become "a certainty rooted in faith in God, who works in the history of every person."

Francis called on Church leaders to support younger generations in their vocational journeys while encouraging young people to work with "the Holy Spirit" in discovering their life's purpose.

The pope pointed to young saints as examples of those who found "complete happiness in relationship with the living Christ" through their vocations.

On the solemnity of St. Joseph, Francis explained that vocational paths develop through "daily fidelity to the Gospel, prayer, discernment, and service" and concluded by urging Church communities to foster vocational awareness across various aspects of life.

"The Church is alive and fruitful when it generates new vocations," he added.

"Our world looks, often unknowingly, for witnesses of hope who proclaim with their lives that following Christ is a source of true joy. Let us never tire, then, of asking the Lord for new laborers for his harvest, certain that with great love he continues to call them."

In closing, the pope entrusted efforts of the young faithful "to follow the Lord to the intercession of Mary, mother of the Church and mother of vocations. Keep walking as pilgrims of hope on the path of the Gospel! I accompany you with my blessing and I ask you, please, to pray for me."

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ACI Prensa Staff, Mar 19, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Lent is not only a time of self denial but also of transformation. Six saints and blesseds have offered the following profound reflections on how to live this time authentically through fasting and conversion of heart.

St. Augustine

"It is true that Moses, Elijah, and Our Lord himself fasted for 40 days; but in Moses, Elijah, and Christ we are meant to see the law, the prophets, and the Gospel, and to learn from them not to cling to this present world or imitate its ways but to nail our unregenerate selves to the cross. Christians must always live in this way, without any wish to come down from their cross, otherwise they will sink beneath the world's mire. But if we have to do so all our lives, we must make an even greater effort during these days of Lent. It is not a simple matter of living through 40 days; Lent is the epitome of our whole life." 

St. John Paul II

"Renunciation of sensations, stimuli, pleasures, and even food or drink is not an end in itself. It must only, so to speak, prepare the way for deeper contents by which the interior man 'is nourished'" (General audience, Wednesday, March 21, 1979).

St. John XXIII

"Lent, O Lord: Do not allow us to resort to broken cisterns (Jer 2:13), nor to imitate the unfaithful servant, the foolish virgin; do not allow the enjoyment of earthly goods to make our hearts insensitive to the lament of the poor, the sick, orphaned children, and the countless brothers and sisters of ours who still today lack the minimum necessary to eat, to cover their bare limbs, to gather the family under one roof" (Radio message of the Holy Father John XXIII on the occasion of the beginning of Lent, Feb. 27, 1963).

Blessed Alvaro del Portillo

"Lent is an urgent call to guard against the snares of the evil one, taking up the weapons of prayer and penance. In the words of our Father, I have often reminded you that 'the devil does not take vacations,' that he never ceases in his efforts to draw souls away from God," (Text of Feb. 2, 1985, published in "Journey with Jesus through the Liturgical Year," Scepter, 2014).

St. Josemaría Escrivá

"We cannot consider this Lent as just another time, a cyclical repetition of the liturgical season. This moment is unique; it is a divine aid that must be welcomed. Jesus passes by our side and awaits from us — today, now — a great change" (from "Furrow," a book written by the saint).

"I advise you to try sometimes to return... to the beginning of your 'first conversion,' which, if not becoming like children, is very similar to it: In the spiritual life, one must let oneself be led with complete trust, without fear or duplicity; one must speak with absolute clarity about what is on one's mind and soul," (from "Christ Is Passing By," a book by the saint).

Blessed Carlo Acutis

"Our soul is like a hot-air balloon. If by chance there is a mortal sin, the soul falls to the ground. Confession is like the fire underneath the balloon enabling the soul to rise again. ... It is important to go to confession often" (National Catholic Register).

"Conversion is nothing more than moving the gaze from below to above; a simple movement of the eyes is enough" (National Catholic Register).

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ACI Prensa Staff, Mar 18, 2025 / 17:10 pm (CNA).

Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, reported that following the breakdown of the truce between Israel and Hamas, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched new attacks very close to his parish.

The priest told Vatican News the bombings occurred just 300 or 400 meters (about 985 to 1,300 feet) from the church, awakening the faithful and causing a growing sense of insecurity throughout the community.

"The bombings woke us up; they were very close. Fortunately, no shrapnel [hit us] and we're fine, but throughout the Strip there is already talk of more than 350 dead and more than a thousand injured," Romanelli said. 

At the outset of the war the parish building, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, was converted into an improvised shelter where 500 people now live. Most are Orthodox Christians, Protestants, and Catholics, but it also serves as a shelter for more than 50 Muslim children with disabilities and their families.

The priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word emphasized that, given the continued uncertainty, some of the families who had returned to their homes after the ceasefire was declared have decided to return to the parish, feeling safer "with Jesus," despite the fact that no place in the region is completely safe.

"Here we are together with Mother Teresa's sisters, the male religious of my congregation of the Incarnate Word, the sisters of the same congregation, the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará. We all try to do good, to serve; we pray, we assist the elderly, the children; we also have children with special needs, and we try to make sure they don't suffer, because children are sponges — they realize if adults are anxious," he added.

Romanelli also referenced the support they are receiving from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, led by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, especially in channeling the humanitarian aid that has been able to enter in recent days thanks to the truce in Gaza and the West Bank.

"We continue to pray to convince everyone that peace is possible, that we must work for peace, for the works of justice, hoping that the Lord will grant this part of the Holy Land a period of peace for everyone, Palestinians and Israelis," he concluded.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 18, 2025 / 14:40 pm (CNA).

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is urging the Trump administration to reverse the cancellation of USAID's "lifesaving and life-giving assistance" following the official announcement that the majority of its programs have been cut. 

In a March 10 statement posted to X, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported the completion of the International Humanitarian Assistance evaluation. "After a six-week review we are officially canceling 83% of the programs at USAID," he said.

"The 5,200 contracts that are now canceled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve (and in some cases even harmed) the core national interests of the United States," he continued.

"In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programs we are keeping (approximately 1,000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department," Rubio concluded.

In response, CRS in a March 17 press release stated: "As part of the Catholic Church, Catholic Relief Services believes that human life is a precious gift from God that must be protected and nurtured."

The nongovernmental organization, which carries out the commitment of the U.S. bishops to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas, explained that during the six-week review, it had to halt its "U.S. government-supported work due to the lack of payments."

The CRS statement said that "food in warehouses could not be distributed to the hungry and women and children could not get vital health and nutrition services."

"In addition," the statement said, "last week's termination of dozens of CRS' lifesaving projects will permanently cut off critical aid to more than 20 million people worldwide. Eleven of these terminated projects had received humanitarian waivers."

"These programs do more than save lives. They help lift communities and countries out of poverty. They support local faith-based and church partners that provide services and stability to their communities and to their countries."

"In the holy season of Lent in this special jubilee year, Pope Francis invites Catholics and all people to become artisans of hope by building communities rooted in solidarity."

The statement highlighted that the United States has a responsibility to global aid.

"CRS programs attend to the needs of very poor communities. As the most powerful and wealthy country in the world, our government also has a moral responsibility to assist the most vulnerable. As Pope Paul VI said in his encyclical Populorum Progressio: 'It is a very important duty of the advanced nations to help the developing nations.'"

"By ending these lifesaving programs, our government is not only neglecting our nation's responsibility but also weakening the very foundations of peace, stability, and prosperity."

"We urge the administration to reverse these terminations and issue prompt payments to continue this lifesaving and life-giving assistance," CRS concluded.

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CNA Staff, Mar 18, 2025 / 15:10 pm (CNA).

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament kicks off March 18 and this year's tournament includes eight Catholic universities competing for the championship title. They are: Creighton University, Gonzaga University, Marquette University, Xavier University, St. John's University, Saint Mary's College, Saint Francis University, and Mount St. Mary's University.

Several of these Catholic institutions are making history with their participation in the tournament this year. 

The Red Flash from Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, clinched their spot in the big dance when they beat the top team in their conference, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), 46-43 on March 11. This victory earned them their first NCAA Tournament in 34 years.

During a crucial moment in the final seconds of the conference title game, Red Flash coach Rob Krimmel turned to his faith. 

According to CBS Sports, Krimmel had written on his play card three phrases: "audience of one," "surrender," and "thy will be done." So, when CCSU tied the game with 17 seconds left, instead of calling for a timeout, Krimmel reminded himself of the phrases on his play card, encouraging his team to go make the plays they needed to make.

The Saint Francis Red Flash will be playing their first game of the tournament against the Alabama State Red Hornets on March 18.

Another team making history with their participation in March Madness is St. John's University from New York. St. John's Red Storm won the Big East Tournament title on March 15 for the first time in 25 years when the team beat Creighton University 82-66. 

Their first game in the tournament will be against the University of Nebraska-Omaha on March 20.

The Marquette Golden Eagles received their fourth consecutive invite to the big dance during the NCAA's Selection Sunday on March 16. Senior guard Stevie Mitchell, who is preparing to play in his fourth March Madness, sees basketball as a tool to inspire the next generation and leave a lasting impact. Last summer, Mitchell hosted a free youth basketball camp at his high school in Pennsylvania. 

"To see how grateful they are for us, it really puts life into perspective. They don't care how the game went," he told the NCAA. "The kids who look up to us, they obviously want us to win, but they don't really care how the game goes, they just see inspiration in us. And as long as we can live up to that night in and night out, we'll be proud of whatever we do, whatever outcome may be, because it's so much bigger than basketball."

He continued: "The more time we spend in the community, the more we realize that and the more we're just able to help give back and just make the place around us a better place. I think that's the greatest thing you can do as a basketball player, or anybody really, is just make the world around you a better place," he added. 

Marquette will face the University of New Mexico in their first-round game on March 21. 

The games for the other Catholic universities competing are: Creighton University will face the University of Louisville on March 20; Gongzaga will play the University of Georgia Bulldogs on March 20; the Xavier Musketeers will face off against the University of Texas Longhorns on March 19; Mount St. Mary's will face American University on March 19; and the Saint Mary's Gaels will compete against Vanderbilt on March 21.  

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Vatican City, Mar 18, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The prefect of the Holy See's Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, asked bishops to avoid promoting fundraising events that would duplicate the Pontifical Collection for the Holy Land taken up on Good Friday. 

"Please, avoid our churches promoting similar collections for this same purpose, so that the meaning and effectiveness of your charity, which responds to the universal initiative of the successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome, are not undercut," the cardinal stated in a letter released Monday.

"Everything you have collected can be sent directly to this dicastery by the commissariats of the Holy Land in your country," he added in the letter, which was also signed by the secretary of the Holy See's Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Archbishop Michel Jalakh.

The goal of the annual collection is to raise funds to sustain the holy sites and the charitable works carried out there. Ultimately, it aims to alleviate the suffering and needs of those Christians who, despite the difficulties, remain in the Holy Land.

"I feel a great responsibility to address the Catholic bishops, in the name of the Holy Father, to convey to you the call of the Church in response to the cry of those who are suffering terribly," wrote Gugerotti, who also said he is "encouraged" by the recent truce between Israel and Hamas.

The prelate noted that with the truce there are no new explosions and unconsolable anguish is not being perpetuated. 

The cardinal said the ceasefire, which has allowed the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the West Bank, is "fragile" and "will not suffice to resolve the problems" and "extinguish hatred."

This year's collection is indispensable

Gugerotti pointed out that this year the collection has become an "essential resource," especially after the pandemic, which caused the "almost complete interruption of pilgrimages" and led to many Christians leaving the Holy Land.

"If we want to strengthen the Holy Land and ensure living contact with the holy places, it is necessary to sustain the Christian communities that, in their diversity, offer perennial praise to God-with-us, also in our name. But for this to be realized, we absolutely need the generous gift of your communities," he urged.

The prelate reiterated that those living in the Holy Land, "beginning with the children, have the right to live in peace" and to once again "have homes and schools, to play together, without the fear of seeing the satanic smile of death again."

"For us Christians, the holy places have a particular value: They are the incarnation of the Incarnation. They have been protected since the beginning by Christian communities, in the variety of their diverse traditions, and for centuries the Friars Minor of the Custody have cared for them with admirable fidelity," he pointed out.

After more than a year of conflict, Gugerotti lamented "we have seen tears, despair, and destruction everywhere."

The prelate said his hope is that "the triumph of inflicted death will not become an eternal victory" but that "the hope will return to us of seeing the Risen One, Jesus Christ Our Lord, who, precisely on that land, showed, alive, the wounds of his passion."

The cardinal also cited the letter Pope Francis addressed to the Catholics of the Middle East on Oct. 7, 2024, encouraging them not to "let yourselves be engulfed by the darkness that surrounds you. Planted in your sacred lands, become sprouts of hope, because the light of faith leads you to testify to love amid words of hatred, to encounter amid growing confrontation, to unity amid increasing hostility."

For Gugerotti, helping them is a duty of all Catholics. "Immediately comes to mind our duty — and I use this term with trembling, but decisively — to hasten, as soon as possible in a concrete way, to help life be reborn." 

"The Holy Land, the holy places, the holy people of God are your family, because they are the heritage of all of us. I ask you to consider the collection as one of your pastoral priorities: The survival of this precious presence of ours, which dates back directly to the time of Jesus, is at stake here," he explained.

The cardinal praised the work of the Friars Minor of the Custody, who "care with admirable fidelity" for these holy places, and once again emphasized the need to financially support the Christian communities.

"I would like you, brother bishops, remembering the images of destruction and death that have constantly passed before your eyes in these times of a new Calvary, to become persuasive apostles of this commitment," he said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Vatican City, Mar 18, 2025 / 07:53 am (CNA).

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis.

Follow here for the latest news on his health and hospitalization:

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ACI Africa, Mar 18, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A seminarian abducted on March 3 from a parish rectory in the Nigerian Diocese of Auchi was murdered by his abductors, an official of the diocese has confirmed. The priest he was abducted with has been released. 

In a statement shared with ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, on March 15, the director of communication of the Auchi Diocese, Father Peter Egielewa, confirmed the safe release of Father Philip Ekweli at about 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, ending 10 days of captivity in the hands of his abductors.

"He is now receiving appropriate medical attention," Egielewa said.

"Unfortunately, however, the 21-year-old major seminarian, Andrew Peter, who was kidnapped along with Father Ekweli, was gruesomely murdered by the abductors," Egielewa's statement continued. He expressed the Nigerian episcopal see's "sincere condolences to the family members of Andrew Peter, praying God to grant them consolation and strength in this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace."

Ekweli and Andrew Peter were kidnapped from the rectory of St. Peter Catholic Church Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo state when gunmen attacked both the rectory and church, destroyed doors and windows, and led them into the surrounding forest.

In the March 14 statement, Egielewa said the local ordinary, Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia, expressed "gratitude to all for the prayers and moral support received while Father Ekweli and the seminarian were held in captivity."

Ghiakhomo called on the Nigerian state and federal government as well as the country's security agencies to "stop the deteriorating security situation in Edo north in particular and other parts of Edo state, which has now become a safe haven for kidnappers, operating at will while the people feel helpless and abandoned."  

The bishop further urged the government to "take proactive steps to deplore the necessary resources to Edo north to secure lives and property of the people. Life has been hell for our people in recent times."

"People are not safe on the roads, in their farms, and even in their homes," he said. "This is unacceptable when there are elected officials whose duty it is to protect the people." 

Ghiakhomo expressed gratitude to the Edo state government for its "sincere efforts in seeing the victims rescued" but expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the police in particular in the rescue efforts, urging them to put in place better measures to rescue kidnapped victims rather than leave the entire rescue efforts solely in the hands of family, friends, and acquaintances of kidnapped victims.

In the March 14 statement, Egielewa lamented that "in the last 10 years, Auchi Diocese has had six of her priests kidnapped, tortured, and released, three attacked but escaped, and one (Father Christopher Odia) brutally murdered in 2022 and now seminarian Andrew Peter also murdered."

"May the souls of seminarian Andrew Peter, Father Christopher Odia, and all those killed by kidnappers in Nigeria, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen," he implored.

Insecurity is rife in Nigeria, where kidnappings, murder, and other forms of persecution against Christians remain rampant in many parts of the West African country, especially in the north.

On March 5, Father Sylvester Okechukwu of the Diocese of Kafanchan was murdered a day after his abduction on March 4.

The latest abduction of Ekweli and the murder of Andrew Peter follows a series of other kidnappings that have targeted Catholic priests in Africa's most populous nation.

On Feb. 6, Father Cornelius Manzak Damulak, a member of the clergy of the Diocese of Shendam and a student at Veritas University Abuja in Nigeria, was abducted and later escaped from captivity. 

Later, on Feb. 19, Father Moses Gyang Jah of St. Mary Maijuju Parish of Shendam Diocese was abducted alongside his niece and the parish council chairman, Nyam Ajiji. Ajiji was reportedly killed; Jah and his niece are yet to be freed.

On Feb. 22, Father Matthew David Dutsemi and Father Abraham Saummam were abducted from the Diocese of Yola. They were later released.

Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009, when Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state.

Catholic bishops in the country, Africa's most populous nation, have continually challenged the government to prioritize the security of its citizens.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

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Vatican City, Mar 17, 2025 / 21:00 pm (CNA).

A group of tango enthusiasts, the emblematic dance of Pope Francis' homeland, gathered in the plaza in front of Gemelli Hospital on Sunday to express their support and closeness to the Holy Father through dance.

The melody of the bandoneon, the leading instrument in tango, resonated all the way to the 10th floor of the hospital, where the pope has been hospitalized for over a month. The initiative, dubbed "prayer tango," was a show of solidarity from Italy's "tango community."

Argentine dancer Daiana Guspero was responsible for promoting the event. In an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, Guspero shared the details of the moving gesture, performed March 16 in front of the statue of St. John Paul II, where many faithful have gathered to pray for Pope Francis.

"I am a true believer and I was sure that with our energy, dancing the tango and praying for him, it would reach him in some way. It was the least I could do for him, and I felt the need to do it, especially knowing that he loves tango, that he danced it when he was young, and that he listened to it at the Vatican," the Argentine dancer explained.

According to the dancer, fans from different parts of Italy, such as Catania and Sicily, came to the gathering. "I danced with Massimiliano Varrese, an Italian actor with whom I'm also studying. He's also a believer, and he immediately joined in to convey all our love to the pope," Guspero added.

Although the initial idea was "a silent dance," Mariano Navone, a dancer and musician who played the bandoneon live, eventually joined in. "Seeing that the pope was feeling better, we thought maybe he could come over to the window when he heard it. But, if I'm not mistaken, he was informed that we were dancing and praying for him," he said.

Guspero has been promoting tango in Italy for 13 years and currently has three academies, the Zotto Tango Academy, located in Milan, Venice, and Verona.

She fondly remembers when she was able to greet Pope Francis during an audience at the Vatican in 2018. "I had the honor and privilege of dancing for him, and the truth is [I experienced] a beautiful emotion that I will never forget," she told ACI Prensa.

"I remember coming up to him and saying, 'Holy Father, how I would like to give you a tango hug!' To which he replied, 'And how I would like to dance the tango with you,'" Guspero recalled with a laugh, stating that the brief exchange was "one of the greatest thrills" of her life. 

In addition, back in 2014 nearly 3,000 dancers congratulated Pope Francis on his 78th birthday with a massive tango performance in St. Peter's Square.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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