Cardinal Vicente Bokalic Iglic, CM:
A Vincentian Shepherd of the Poor

Vicente Bokalic Iglic was born on 11 June 1952 in Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He joined the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) in 1970 and pursued priestly formation at the Colegio Máximo de San Miguel (philosophy) and the Buenos Aires seminary (theology). He made his perpetual vows on 5 June 1976 and was ordained a priest on 1 April 1978. In his early priesthood, he served in youth and vocational ministry and as parish vicar of Nuestra Señora de la Medalla Milagrosa in Buenos Aires from 1981. Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, he held formative roles in the Vincentian community (seminary formator, bursar, and superior) and engaged in mission work in northern Argentina.

Episcopal Career and Major Milestones

On 15 March 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fr. Bokalic as Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (and Titular Bishop of Summa). He was consecrated bishop on 29 May 2010 by Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio (later Pope Francis). In this role, he worked closely under Bergoglio’s leadership. On 23 December 2013, Pope Francis named him Bishop of Santiago del Estero. Under Bishop Bokalic’s guidance, this diocese received special attention as Francis moved Argentina’s historical primatial see to Santiago del Estero. In fact, on 22 July 2024, Francis elevated the Diocese to the Archdiocese of Santiago del Estero and named Bokalic its first Archbishop and “Primate of Argentina.”

In his episcopate, Bokalic has emphasized pastoral closeness and simplicity. For example, he often states that the Church must go “out of the temple to the peripheries.” Indeed, he calls for a “welcoming, renewed Church, close to people’s lives,” always giving “priority to the Gospel of Jesus.” These themes are reflected in his liturgical style: he preaches simply and focuses on listening to people’s needs.

On 7 December 2024, Pope Francis named him a Cardinal-Priest (assigning him the titular church of Santa Maria Maddalena in Campo Marzio). Pope Francis also appointed Cardinal Bokalic to the Dicastery for Evangelization in January 2025, entrusting him with advising on the Church’s global missionary outreach.

Pastoral Vision and Theological Emphases

Cardinal Bokalic’s theology and pastoral priorities are marked by the influence of Pope Francis and of Vincentian spirituality. He consistently articulates a vision of the Church as “a missionary, outward-going Church.” He echoes Francis’s call for an Iglesia en salida (church that goes forth). He promoted an open Church, in a state of mission, that goes out of the temple to meet people in pain and poverty. He insists that the Church must be “welcoming and close to people’s lives… to those in solitude or on the margins,” always giving priority to the proclamation of the Gospel. He often speaks of evangelizing the “peripheries” – both geographic and existential (poor, abandoned, forgotten) – echoing Francis’s emphasis on walking “barefoot” with those who suffer.

Within this framework, Bokalic prioritizes the poor and marginalized. He emphasizes addressing “poverty, marginalization and the ‘new poverties’ – addictions, human trafficking, youth unemployment” in his diocese. He calls constantly for “bringing the Gospel to the peripheries, [and] being close to the people.” In a recent interview, he said unequivocally that Francis’s legacy is that “the first thing [Francis] left us is very clear about where we want to walk… closeness that people spontaneously applauded.” The Gospel, he affirms, must be lived as “good news for the poor,” a central Vincentian theme. His episcopal motto – “Me envió a evangelizar a los pobres” (“He sent me to preach good news to the poor”) – directly quotes St. Vincent de Paul’s charism (citing Luke 4:18). As Primate of Argentina, he has spoken of fostering a “renewed evangelizing spirit” and a “new missionary zeal especially toward those farthest away, those living on the peripheries” in the impoverished northwest region.

Cardinal Bokalic also stresses synodality and lay participation. He talks about “helping a missionary and synodal Church to become a way of life,” envisioning “a decentralized Church” that recognizes each baptized person’s charisms and promotes mature, participatory lay ministries. Along these lines, he emphasizes “the promotion of the laity, the appreciation of women, and always that effective closeness to the poor” as characteristic of the Latin American Church.

On a theological level, Bokalic’s outlook is deeply pastoral and evangelical rather than academic. He emphasizes Christ’s mercy and fraternity. Describing Pope Francis at his funeral, he said that Francis had a “profound humanity,” that “nothing was foreign to him,” and that he had a “very special heart for the little ones and the poor.” He declared that “Pope Francis was the incarnation of the Gospel.” Of Francis’s guiding influence, he stated: “He urged us to open our doors, to go out to meet others… This is a deeply evangelical attitude…” These words indicate Bokalic’s conviction that incarnational, compassionate service – hallmarks of Vincentian spirituality – are at the heart of Christian discipleship.

Vincentian Spirituality

As a member of the Congregation of the Mission, Bokalic’s ministry is imbued with the charism of St. Vincent de Paul. Observers note that Bokalic’s humility, personal simplicity, and focus on the needy reflect classic Vincentian virtues. He has long held leadership roles within the Congregation of the Mission (e.g., Provincial Superior, seminary rector) and was instrumental in celebrating 150 years of Vincentian ministry in Argentina. Vatican observers have pointed out that his elevation to the cardinalate (alongside Cardinal Souraphiel) highlights the “preferential option for the poor” in Pope Francis’s Church.

He frequently participates in local social works and encourages Vincentian organizations in his archdiocese. He often repeats St. Vincent’s warning that even priests who do not take formal vows of poverty “must always be guided by the spirit of that virtue” – words that he attempts to live through a simple lifestyle. His speeches and pastoral letters frequently invoke Vincentian themes of mercy, “lived poverty,” and closeness to the suffering.

Relationship with Pope Francis

Vicente Bokalic and Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis) had a long-standing pastoral connection. Bokalic served as an auxiliary bishop in Buenos Aires under Cardinal Bergoglio from 2010 until Francis’s election as Pope in 2013. He often credits that time with teaching him Francis’s pastoral style. In an interview, he recalled Bergoglio’s “missionary spirit” and insistence on an “Iglesia abierta, en estado de misión” that leaves church confines to meet people in pain and poverty. He notes that Francis modeled being present among the suffering and “drank from the Gospel at the source” by living simply and serving the humble.

When Pope Francis announced that Santiago del Estero would become an archdiocese (making Bokalic Primate of Argentina), Bokalic expressed deep gratitude. After Francis’s death in April 2025, Bokalic led Argentina in mourning, publicly praising Francis’s legacy. He said his own “first reaction was profound sadness, even with tears, because he is someone very important in our life.” He praised Francis’s closeness to the poor: “He had a very special heart for the little ones and the poor… nothing was foreign to him,” calling the late Pope “the incarnation of the Gospel.” Both men share theological emphases on evangelization and the margin. Bokalic has echoed Francis’s calls for prayerful discernment (e.g., urging bishops to be “men of prayer” with a universal vision). In January 2025, Pope Francis named him to the Dicastery for Evangelization – a sign of trust and continuity with Francis’s own mission priorities.

While humble about his new cardinal’s role (saying he was surprised by the appointment and relies on God’s mercy), Bokalic clearly shared Francis’s vision for the Church: a merciful, missionary Church attentive to the “little ones and the poor” and rooted in constant outreach. Many Argentine Catholics see him as a Francis-like figure. As one observer noted, in the conclave he will likely carry on Francis’s emphasis on synodality and concern for peripheries, rather than traditional curial agendas.

Principal Ministries, Initiatives, and Achievements

• Provincial Superior, Congregation of the Mission (Argentina, 2003–2009): Oversaw the ministry of the Congregation of the Mission nationwide, including the 150th anniversary of Vincentian mission in Argentina.
• Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (2010–2013): Worked under Cardinal Bergoglio, supporting pastoral care in the capital (also Titular Bishop of Summa).
• Bishop of Santiago del Estero (2013–2024): Led this historically poor diocese, focusing on pastoral outreach and synodality.
• Archbishop of Santiago del Estero and Primate of Argentina (2024–present): Transformed diocese into an archdiocese and ensured mission continuity.
• Cardinal (2024–present): Contributed to Synod on Evangelization; engaged in dialogues on the Church’s missionary future.
• Pastoral Focus: Focus on evangelizing the poor, marginalized communities, youth unemployment, and modern-day poverty (including human trafficking).

Notable Quotes

On the Church and the Pastoral Mission

• “I am here to do your will, to serve the Kingdom: this has always been my response to the Lord. I trust in his grace, in his presence and in his help in order to accomplish this mission” (Interview in Vatican News, 10 Oct. 2024).
• “My heart, my mind, my spirit and all my strength are here, in the diocese of Santiago del Estero, but I know that this implies me to think beyond here, in the Church, which is in all the peoples of the earth” (Interview in Vatican News, 10 Oct. 2024).
• “The mystery of the Incarnation that we celebrated in recent days is an inexhaustible source of experiencing our consecration and service in the Church by serving wherever the Lord sends us” (Pastoral Letter, 31 Mar. 2020).
• “…that every house be ‘a domestic Church’…” (Pastoral Letter, 31 Mar. 2020).

Service to the Needy and Social Commitment

• “The poor are the living sacrament of Christ” (Pastoral Letter, 31 Mar. 2020).
• “In our days there are many new faces of poverty…faces of people that as a Christian community we must look at, attend to and care for” (Christmas Pastoral Letter, Dec. 2020).
• “We must be a fraternal and supportive Church, very committed to the cause of the poor” (Vida Nueva Digital, Dec. 9, 2024).

Vincentian Charism

• “We must deepen our Vincentian charism, so timely, so enlightening for these times” (Nuevo Diario Web, Dec. 6, 2024).
• “The Vincentian charism passes through these two words: mission and charity” (Nuevo Diario Web, Dec. 6, 2024).
• “…united to serve the poor as St. Vincent did” (Pastoral Letter, 31 Mar. 2020).

Peace and Justice

• “The peace of God that is proclaimed cannot be separated from justice, because as long as inequality increases… there can be no lasting peace” (Christmas Message, Dec. 2023).
• “…may the Gospel of Life fill us with its joy, transmit its peace and impel us to reconnect with one another…” (Christmas Pastoral Letter, Dec. 2020).