Argentina

1925

The Pallottine mission in Argentina originated in 1925, when Fr. Francisco Xavier Zeus SAC was sent by the German Province to minister to German immigrants. The increasing influx of faithful prompted the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires to require the Society to assume official pastoral responsibility, resulting in the founding of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, which continues under Pallottine administration.

The Pallottines expanded into Bolivia in 1958 from their Argentine base. The Argentine mission was later marked by a tragic event during the political turmoil of the 1970s, when three Pallottine Fathers and two Brothers were assassinated in what became known as the “midnight massacre.” One of the priests was spiritually directed by Fr. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis.