Pope Leo landed in Argentina, launching the first visit by a pontiff in nearly four decades with a critique of austerity measures.
The pontiff arrived in Buenos Aires for the second leg of a Latin American tour, according to The Guardian.
Speaking at the Palacio Libertad before President Javier Milei and government officials, Pope Leo delivered a pointed critique of the administration’s fiscal reforms, La Nación reported.
The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy,
the Pope said on Sunday, as reported by The Guardian.
The address touched on the heavy toll of deep spending cuts affecting pensions, educational institutions, and disability assistance. Officials and analysts noted that the remarks amounted to a diplomatic yet forceful challenge to the core agenda of the libertarian administration.
Welcome to Argentina, Pope Leo XIV…!!! 🇻🇦🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/IAvot1RKLR
International outlets also highlighted Milei’s alliance with United States President Donald Trump as the Argentine government presented budget cuts as necessary reforms to fix a problematic economy.
Addressing a political climate marked by sharp rhetoric, the pontiff urged leaders to moderate their language and respect institutional norms, La Nación reported.
Democracy is also strengthened in the daily way of acting in public life: in the willingness to listen, in the care of one’s words, in the patient search for agreements and in the ability to recognize in those who think differently a compatriot with whom we share a common destiny,
Pope Leo stated, according to La Nación.
He reminded officials that those holding power have a duty to act with prudence, recognize the limits placed upon their authority, and direct their choices toward the well-being of the entire community.
Large crowds gathered outside the presidential palace and near Plaza San Martín to welcome the pontiff, with supporters chanting his name, The Guardian reported. Foreign minister Pablo Quirno greeted the pontiff after he laid a wreath in Plaza San Martín in Buenos Aires.
Liliana Deblauwe, a 68-year-old retired teacher who waited alongside hundreds of citizens to catch a glimpse of the pontiff, expressed hope for national unity. Just like the World Cup unites us, hopefully the pope will too,
she remarked.
The visit serves as a litmus test for the Catholic Church in a nation where self-identified Catholic affiliation has dropped significantly in recent decades. A recent University of Buenos Aires poll showed that 57.7% of people identify as Catholic, marking a decline from roughly 90% in the 1960s. Organizers expect 7 million attendees across three open-air masses, a visit to a home for disabled people, and a prison visit.