Buenos Aires, Argentina – This morning, Pope Leo XIV traveled to the province of Córdoba, Argentina, to lead a mass at the Argentine Aircraft Factory and send a message of unity from the Archdiocese.
With an estimated three million in attendance, the service was the largest the pontiff has presided over since succeeding Pope Francis as the head of the Roman Catholic Church last year.
Leo arrived in Buenos Aires on Sunday afternoon, marking the first papal visit to Argentina in 39 years. This is his second stop on a 12-day tour of three South American countries, which began in Uruguay and will end in Peru on November 17.
On his first day on Argentine soil, the Catholic leader met with President Javier Milei at the Casa Rosada – the presidential palace. Then, the head of government of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macri, handed him the keys to the City.
Subsequently, he delivered a speech in front of governors and legislators in which he addressed the prolonged socioeconomic crisis of the country and outlined the lines that would shape his message during his stay.
Emilse Perez, a Catholic believer from Santa Fe. Credit: Florencia Cabral
Outside, a crowd of faithful and curious people jostled at the barriers to catch a glimpse of the pontiff, many of them having traveled for days to see him.
“It is a great joy for us that the Pope is with us and brings us his joy, his faith, and his good wishes for all Argentines,” said Emilse Pérez, a 58-year-old woman from the province of Santa Fe.
The faithful listen attentively to the pope’s address in Buenos Aires City. Credit: Florencia Cabral
Hugo Román, a 36-year-old journalist who moved from Venezuela, said that the pope’s visit was significant for people of all backgrounds: “The pope always brings a message of peace for all peoples, regardless of the economic, social, and political contexts in which Latin American countries live.” His message is always one of peace, love, and that we must all improve the way we live.
The main points of Pope Leo XIV’s speech
During his speech, Leo paid tribute to his Argentine predecessor: “I come to the homeland where Pope Francis began a story.”
Then, he spoke for 25 minutes and highlighted the need to fund education and science, care for the elderly, guarantee a future for the youth, enhance the country’s natural resources, and improve care for people with disabilities.
The pope also mentioned the economic uncertainty that families are facing: “The economy must serve the person and not the person serve the economy.”
Opponents to Milei’s government interpreted Leo’s words as an affront to the president’s austerity policies.
The governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, urged the executive branch to “take note” of the message. Milei meanwhile urged that the pope’s words “not become a topic of controversy.”
The faithful await Pope Leo’s address outside the Palacio Libertad. Credit: Florencia Cabral
Pope Leo’s visit comes amid a complex time for the country, marked by high debt rates, rising unemployment, business closures, and increasing poverty, according to private studies.
Milei’s government has overseen cuts in public universities, support for people with disabilities, and healthcare as part of its fiscal adjustment.
“Due to the situation in the country, many young people lose hope and leave,” said Micaela Paca, a 25-year-old student who sells t-shirts in downtown Buenos Aires.
Leo holds visits disability center and holds mass for millions
Merchandise for Pope Leo’s visit to Buenos Aires. Credit: Florencia Cabral
Yesterday morning, the pontiff visited the Little Cottolengo Don Orione, a home in Buenos Aires where more than 400 people with disabilities live, frequently visited by Pope Francis when he was archbishop.
There, the pope listened to the residents and workers, and with emotion he remarked: “Their lives are not a burden to society; they are a blessing.”
link: https://x.com/Pontifex_es/status/2119784571659276641?s=20
Later, Leo traveled along Avenida del Libertador, one of the main avenues in Buenos Aires, in the popemobile and held a mass at the Monument to the Spaniards. The local press estimated the participation of more than two million people who attentively listened to the words of the Supreme Pontiff and prayed on the grass or asphalt.
During the homily to the faithful, he addressed issues such as precarious work, domestic violence, and addiction, and called on families to take an active role in the transmission of values.
“Depriving a person of their job is not simply denying them an economic income; it is severely injuring their human dignity,” Leo stated.
In the afternoon, the pope held a meeting with union leaders and social movements at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, followed by an interreligious meeting.
Tomorrow, he will celebrate a third mass at the Basilica of Luján, the most important in Argentina, before departing for Peru where he will conclude his regional tour.
Featured image description: A multitude of the faithful waiting for Pope Leo in the city of Buenos Aires.
Featured image credit: Florencia Cabral
