Argentina: Cardinal Luis Dri, confessor of Pope Francis, dies at 98

Cardinal Luis Pascual Dri, Capuchino Fraile born in the countryside, who dedicated his life to being an instrument of God’s mercy with the sacrament of confession, even being confessor of Jorge Bergoglio – Pope Francis – died in Buenos Aires on the night of June 30, at 98 years.

This was reported this morning the archbishopric of Buenos Aires, and indicated that his remains are veiled from 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary, and the Eucharist will be held at 6:00 p.m. The last goodbye will be this Wednesday, July 2 at 9:00 a.m., with a Mass presided by the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Mons. Jorge García Cuerva.

From the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires They expressed closeness “to their religious family and all their loved ones in this moment of deep pain, but at the same time of hope in the Lord.”

The Executive Commission of the Argentine Episcopal Conferenceon the other hand, he received the news of his death “with deep pain for his departure and with immense gratitude for his ministry in favor of the little ones.”

Remembering Cardinal Dri, they referred to him as a “simple pastor, tireless confessor and witness of God’s merciful love.”

“His life was a serene expression of the Gospel. For years, in the confessional of the sanctuary of Our Lady of Pompeya, he was a spiritual father of many men and women who sought reconciliation and peace. With Franciscan humility, he knew how to welcome, listen and forgive, being a reflection of the tenderness of the father,” they said.

They also stressed that Pope Francis, announcing his appointment as a cardinal in 2023, proposed it as a model of merciful pastor, saying: “When doubts come to me about If you forgive too much, I think of Father Dri and I calm down.”

Finally, by praying for his eternal rest, entrusting his soul to the Lord “whom he served with fidelity, simplicity and joy”, asked “that their example encourages us to be a nearby church, to listen and that comfort.”

Who was Cardinal Dri?

Luis Pascual Dri was born in 1927 in Federation, province of Entre Ríos (Argentina). Since childhood he served in rural tasks to help his family.

For many years he was confessor in the parish and sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Nueva Pompeya, in the southern part of the capital, almost at the border with the province of Buenos Aires.

There, he was confessor of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio in his time as archbishop of Buenos Aires, before being elected Pope. In 2023, it was Pope Francis who created him Cardinal, and received his attributes in October of that year in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires, since due to his age and his general state of health, he did not travel to Rome to participate in the Consistory.

Despite his advanced age, until the end of his life he continued dedicating him long hours to hear confessions.

In April 2025, Cardinal Dri He gave an interview with Ewtnin which he remembered his link with Jorge Bergoglio when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Forgive everyone

At that time, the Capuchin friar used to approach the archbishop with concern, because he felt that sometimes, in his confessions, he forgave too much. Then Bergoglio said: “Look, don’t forget that Jesus forgave everyone so you also have to forgive everyone.”

Bergoglio regularly visited the sanctuary, “it was very devout (the Virgin of) Pompeya and always came here, he liked any party that there was a lot.” Like Pope, “His hopes were to change a poor church for the poor. Not that the priests talk about poverty, but that we are poor and we are among the poor.”

Of caring for pigs to Cardinal of the Catholic Church

When he received the news that the Holy Father would create him Cardinal, Luis Dri was surprised, because he did not expect to be “remotely” being a cardinal. “That’s why I got so excited, that’s why I started crying so much. I never thought, but also, look like a capuchin friar born in the countryside, dedicated to caring pigs, to take care of animals, to take care of cows, and that suddenly they tell you: ‘You are cardinal of the Catholic Church.”

“I imagined immediately all dressed in red,” he recalled, and admitted to having thought: “I don’t want that, I don’t want that at all, I want to be a friar, with this brown habit and nothing more, bring this to most (the cardinal birrete)” That Pope Francis sent him as a gift.

“With patience I accepted it, I didn’t say anything, I thanked him for a letter, I appreciated it later too,” he said, on a trip he made to Rome.

On that occasion, the priest arrived in Santa Marta and when he first saw Bergoglio as Pope, “I squeezed him, I hugged him with all the love, with all the love, with all the joy,” he said.

The first thing Francisco asked was: “Are you going to confess to me?” And then, “At the end of everything, he tells me again: ‘Do you now give me the acquittal of everything, of everything?” In this regard, he reflected: “What humility, that the Pope comes to confess with a Capuchin friar, but he wanted it that way.”