About Argentina:
Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, with a total area of 2.78 million square kilometers (1.07 million square miles). This makes it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, and approximately one-third the size of the United States. The estimated population is around 48,000,000. Argentina is highly urbanized, with over 92% of the population residing in cities and urban centers.
Geographically, Argentina is shaped like an inverted triangle with its base at the top; so it is 880 miles (1,420 km) across at its widest from east to west and stretches 2,360 miles (3,800 km) from the subtropical north to the subantarctic south. Argentina is one of the premier destinations in the world to see wild penguins. Thousands of them migrate to the Patagonian coast and Tierra del Fuego to breed and raise their chicks.
The nation of Argentina is predominantly Catholic—some 78% identify themselves as such, despite inroads by evangelical sects in the last few decades. And, as we all know, Pope Francis was a native of Argentina, serving as Archbishop of Buenos Aires before his election to the papacy in 2013.
The government had a recent history of clashing with the Church, especially in the so-called “dirty war” of the 1990’s when many opponents of the government simply vanished. This included priests as well as non-religious who opposed the military Junta. Through all this the faith remained strong.
Fast forward to 2024, and you will find a different government, with the election of President Javier Milei in December 2023. An economist, Milei has taught university courses and written on various aspects of economics and politics, and also hosted radio programs on the subject. His policies are credited with stopping the out-of-control inflation in just a few short months……annual inflation has dropped from a peak of over 200% down into the low double digits, significantly slowing the rate of daily price hikes. To put this in perspective, an inflation rate of 200% means that an item’s price triples.
After years of chronic deficits, the government has aggressively cut subsidies and public spending to achieve consecutive primary and financial fiscal surpluses.
The government has begun easing preexisting currency and capital controls (the cepo), slowly moving away from strict exchange rate anchors.
Catholic Places of interest in Argentina:
Buenos Aires: Several Catholic places of interest
Itati: Basilica of Our Lady of Itati:
Lujan: Our Lady of Lujan
San Nicolas: Apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary
Traveling to Argentina:
By air:
From the US & Canada: Direct flights from the U.S. and Canada are operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas, American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines departing from cities like Miami, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston. The majority of international flights land in Buenos Aires at Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), also known as Ezeiza.Regional Travel:
From Madrid, Rome, Paris, and London: Direct flights are widely available through airlines like Iberia and Air Europa.From Oceania: Qantas operates direct flights from Sydney
From bordering countries like Brazil and Chile: Many flights land at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), which is closer to downtown Buenos Aires.
By ship: Several cruise lines make Buenos Aires a port-of-call.
Sources:
1. Laurentin, René. An Appeal from Mary in Argentina: The Apparitions of San Nicolás. Milford, OH: Edited and Published by Faith Pub., 1990. Print.