One year after the death of Pope Francis, thousands of Argentinians gathered in Plaza de Mayo to celebrate his life and give thanks for his witness. The Augustinian Recollect Youth (JAR) took part in a tribute that brought together faith, culture, and community.
This April 21, on the first anniversary of the death of Pope Francis, Argentina remembers him with gratitude. Last Saturday, Plaza de Mayo filled with young people, families, and people of different backgrounds who wished to celebrate the life of the first American Pope—the Pope close to the people—whom many still affectionately call Father Bergoglio.
Among those present were the young people of the Augustinian Recollect Youth (JAR) in Argentina, who experienced this gathering as an experience of shared faith and ecclesial communion.
A celebration that speaks the language of young people
The tribute was marked by a concert by Fr. Guilherme Peixoto—internationally known since World Youth Day Lisbon 2023, where he was responsible for rousing young people for the closing Eucharist—who offered a proposal that integrated electronic music, lights, and a selection of Pope Francis’ words and images.
The format, deeply connected to youth culture, enabled the Pontiff’s message to reach people directly, even those who are not usually connected with the Church.
“We were very happy to see so many families, so many young people who came together to pay tribute to Pope Francis,” shares Leobaldo Flores, from the JAR at the parish of Our Lady of Consolation. “His message remains in our hearts: a close message, of love, and above all an invitation to a personal encounter with Jesus.”
The gathering, especially meaningful as it took place on a Saturday night, showed the strength of a figure who continues to draw people beyond the visible boundaries of the believing community.
An experience that brings people together and surprises
The gathering brought together not only Catholics, but also people distant from the faith, highlighting the breadth of Francis’ impact. The communal experience was one of the most notable features.
“I was deeply struck by the number of people there were, including people who are not very connected with the faith,” says Lourdes, 21, from the Betania community. “That they chose a Saturday night to be there says a great deal about what Francis meant.”
Although she is not a fan of electronic music, Lourdes highlights the shared experience: “It was very beautiful to experience it with my brothers and sisters, with people who came from far away. I did not expect it to be such a meaningful experience, and also such a joyful one.”
Celebrating a life that continues to bear fruit
Beyond the format, the heart of the gathering was the figure of Francis and his way of living the Gospel: close, concrete, profoundly human. His words, projected during the concert, resonated again as a timely invitation to encounter Christ and to live an incarnate faith.
The high turnout, the festive tone, and the depth of the testimonies show that his life continues to bear fruit in the heart of the Church and of the world.
For the young people of the JAR, this celebration was also a call: to live that same spirit today, to build community, and to proclaim the Gospel with creativity and closeness.
A grateful remembrance that becomes mission
Plaza de Mayo thus became a space of a living Church, where remembrance became celebration, and celebration became an impetus for the present.
Because celebrating the life of Pope Francis is not only remembering what he was, but welcoming what he continues to be: a call to the joy of the Gospel, to encounter, and to a Church open to all.
