Pope taps successor as archbishop of Buenos Aires, again says he might finally return home to visit

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has tapped an Argentine bishop with years of ministry in the country’s prisons as his successor as archbishop of Buenos Aires. The appointment on Friday came a day after Francis again said he might finally visit his home country next year. Bishop Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva is the 55-year-old bishop of Rio Gallegos. He was named Friday to replace the retiring Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli, who turned 75 last year. The appointment was announced a day after Francis repeated that he was looking into visiting Argentina next year. Francis has kept Argentina at an arms’ length for the 10 years of his papacy apparently not wanting to get drawn into the country’s political polarization.