Argentina pained by death of homegrown Pope Francis

FILE PHOTO: Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, at the Vatican, Mar 13, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo

Argentines lit candles in sorrow and shock on Monday at the death of their countryman Pope Francis, once archbishop of the capital Buenos Aires, after battling illness.

Born in Jorge Bergoglio in 1936 to Italian immigrant parents, Francis was the first Latin American pope. Some in his homeland regretted that he never returned as pontiff, but there were plaudits for his focus on the poor and his liberal reforms.

"The Pope's death is going to really leave a mark of pain in people's hearts," resident Nicolas Cordoba said in downtown Buenos Aires early on Monday, where many were just finding out the news.

"It hurts me a lot because I remember mostly his words in support of bisexuals and homosexuals. It literally hurts me."

Argentina's presidency office praised Francis' focus on inter-religious dialogue, building up spirituality amongst the young and cost-cutting in the Vatican, something that tallies with President Javier Milei's "chainsaw" austerity.

Milei, a bombastic free-market economist, had clashed with the pope, lambasting him as a socialist and even calling him the devil's representative on earth, though he patched things up once in office.

"Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honor for me," Milei said on X. "I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us today dealing with this sad news."

The government said there would be seven days of mourning.

'HE FOUGHT FOR RIGHTS'

In the early morning outside Buenos Aires cathedral, people were finding out the news en route to work.

"It's such a shame because he fought for a lot of rights," said Julia Castro, 42, a worker in the city.

Some Argentines lit candles outside the cathedral where a mass for Francis was planned for 8.30am (1130 GMT).

"It's such a great sadness," said Agustin Hartridge as he lit one candle, adding that he had watched the pope make a public appearance for Easter Sunday.

"Yesterday I saw him very deteriorated, but I had faith and I had hoped that he would make it."