Pope Leo XIV Concludes Argentina Visit, the Country’s First Papal Visit in 39 Years

Pope Leo XIV is concluding a four-day visit to Argentina on Wednesday, Nov. 11, the first papal visit to the country since 1987. The trip included tributes to Francis, the first Argentine pope, meetings with worshippers and officials, and remarks that contrasted with President Javier Milei’s economic policies. Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires and led the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025, never returned to Argentina during his papacy. The last pope to visit was John Paul II, in April 1987; he had also traveled to Argentina in 1982, during the Falklands War.

Leo arrived in Buenos Aires on Sunday, Nov. 8, and was welcomed by Milei. The two met privately at the Casa Rosada, the seat of Argentina’s government. The pope then addressed officials, civil society representatives, and diplomats at Palacio Libertad in his first speech of the visit. Before departing for Peru, he was scheduled to visit the Federal Penitentiary Complex in Buenos Aires at 8 a.m. Wednesday and celebrate Mass at 10 a.m. in the plaza outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján.

The visit also paid tribute to Francis. Speaking before officials and Milei, Leo recalled his predecessor’s path and said he was, in a sense, retracing the steps of the first Latin American pope in his home country. Leo also took part in a service at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires, where Francis had served as archbishop before his election as pope in 2013. Milei’s praise for Francis marked a shift from his earlier attacks: before becoming president, he called the pontiff an “idiot” and “a representative of evil on Earth” and accused him of supporting communism. After his election, Milei adopted a more conciliatory tone and personally apologized to Francis during a Vatican visit in February 2024. Welcoming Leo, he called Francis “the most important Argentine in history.”

Despite the cordial meeting with Milei, Leo addressed issues sensitive to the government. Without naming the president, he argued that the economy should serve people and that growth should not leave the most vulnerable behind. He expressed solidarity with families facing financial uncertainty, unemployed people, older adults, and workers who struggle to meet basic household needs even though they have jobs. The remarks came as Milei pursued austerity measures, including public spending cuts, reduced subsidies, and a smaller role for the state in several areas since taking office in December 2023.

Leo also spoke in support of people with disabilities and urged special care for those who are ill or depend on assistance. On Monday, Nov. 9, he visited Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione, a Catholic institution in Claypole, in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, that provides care for people with disabilities. The institution has faced financial difficulties amid delays in public funding and the effects of the government’s austerity measures. His comments were interpreted as a pointed message to Milei, whose government has cut assistance programs. The National Disability Agency, known as Andis, has also faced controversy. It was investigated over an alleged kickback scheme involving medicine contracts. Audio recordings attributed to the agency’s then-director, Diego Spagnuolo, mentioned Karina Milei, the president’s sister and chief of staff. Her involvement in any wrongdoing has not been established.

Leo also called for South American integration, saying Argentina’s future is tied to that of its neighbors and advocating dialogue and agreements between countries. That position contrasts with Milei’s foreign policy, which has included diplomatic disputes with left-leaning governments in the region, particularly the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Milei has also strengthened political and economic ties with the United States under President Donald Trump. Leo was scheduled to leave Argentina from Ezeiza International Airport at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday for Lima. Peru is the final stop on his South American trip, which began in Uruguay on Nov. 6. He is expected to remain there until Nov. 16 before returning to Rome. Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, lived in Peru for more than two decades, arrived in 1985 as a missionary with the Order of St. Augustine, and became a naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015.