People stand in front of candles for the late Pope Francis on the grand staircase of the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) People gather for the late Pope Francis outside the Cathedral in Buenos Aires,

Francis never gave an explicit answer for not returning as pontiff to his native country, but some experts say he worried about having his presence used for political purposes.

Argentina-born Pope Francis, who died on Monday, is being honored at his local hometown soccer club in Buenos Aires, San Lorenzo de Almagro, where the football-loving head of the Roman Catholic Church remained a member during his 12-year papacy.