Argentine President Javier Milei embraces Pope Leo XIV during a farewell at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires on Nov. 11, before the pope departed for Peru. (Foto: Instagram)
Argentine President Javier Milei appeared emotional as he said goodbye to Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires. The farewell took place on the airport tarmac shortly before the pope boarded a flight to Peru. Images recorded by Argentine news outlets showed Milei embracing the pontiff.
Leo XIV was concluding a four-day visit to Argentina, the first papal visit to the country since John Paul II traveled there in 1987. The trip also included tributes to Pope Francis, the first Argentine pope, who led the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025. Francis was born in Buenos Aires but did not return to Argentina during his papacy.
Leo XIV arrived in Argentina on Sunday, Nov. 8, and was received by Milei. The two held a private meeting at the Casa Rosada, the seat of the Argentine government. The pope later met with government officials, civil society representatives and diplomats at Palacio Libertad. Before leaving, he celebrated Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján and thanked Argentinians for their welcome. The service drew a large crowd and was his final major religious event in the country.
The Argentina leg was part of a 12-day apostolic journey through South America that began in Uruguay and continues to Peru. Leo XIV lived in Peru for many years, serving as a missionary and bishop. The trip came less than a month after he underwent surgery on Oct. 13. Before the journey, the Vatican said his recovery was progressing well and that there were no medical contraindications to travel.
