The death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, caused a new controversy in Argentina, centered on the assistance to his family, the operations against the Government of Javier Milei, and the politicization of the mourning.
Nahuel Sotelo, Secretary of Worship and Civilization, issued a statement on his X account responding to the criticisms of media operators, especially Luis Novaresio, who falsely questioned the supposed lack of support from Milei's Government to the Pope's family for traveling to Rome for the funeral.
In his statement, Sotelo claimed to have been in contact with the Bergoglio family since the Pope's hospitalization, making himself available for any need. He clarified that he didn't make this support public because "there are things with which politics isn't done."
El fallecido Papa Francisco.
"From my position and from the position of the Secretariat of Worship, I want to inform that before the death of Pope Francis, I have been personally in contact with the Bergoglio family, to make ourselves available from the moment the Holy Father was hospitalized," he detailed.
According to the official, after arriving in Rome, he spoke with José Bergoglio, the Pope's direct nephew and son of his only living sister, who expressed that the family decided not to travel to honor Francis's memory, following his example of humility and austerity. Sotelo also conveyed the regret of José, his brother Mauro, and his mother for the use of the Pope's death for political purposes.
"José told me that the decision of him and his mother was to follow the Holy Father's example and at no time did they consider traveling as they believe that is the best way to honor Francis's memory," Sotelo explained.
Nahuel Sotelo y Javier Milei.
The statement comes in response to journalists like Novaresio, who on his program on A24 criticized Milei's Government for supposedly not facilitating tickets or accommodation for the Bergoglio family.
Sotelo, without directly naming Novaresio, accused "some journalist or another" of using the Pope's death as a "political banner" and called for respect for the mourning of the family, the Catholic people, and the country. "It's not acceptable to do politics at any cost," he stated, urging the media to inform themselves before taking public stances.
