Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass in Buenos Aires on Nov. 9, attended by an estimated 2.5 million people and Argentine President Javier Milei. (Foto: Instagram)
Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass for an estimated 2.5 million people in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Monday, Nov. 9. The service took place in the Palermo area and was part of the pontiff’s 12-day tour of South America. Argentine President Javier Milei attended the Mass.
In his homily, Leo emphasized the importance of the Christian family, describing it as a pillar amid the challenges facing society. He urged worshippers to pass their faith on to younger generations and to keep religious teachings present in everyday life. “Do not give in to voices that say the Christian family is outdated,” he said, adding that it represents a pillar amid the many forms of instability of the present day.
The pope listed pressures that affect families, including a lack of stability, social hardship, precarious work, domestic violence, separation and addiction. He also pointed to ordinary practices through which faith can be shared and sustained, such as praying before meals or bedtime, forgiving one another, listening to each other, and attending Sunday Mass. He mentioned grandparents teaching children to pray, as well as preparing for a retreat or pilgrimage.
Leo also recalled his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in April 2025 and had served as bishop of Buenos Aires before becoming head of the Catholic Church. The pope said the family is a privileged place to know and encounter Christ, and recalled that Francis had spoken passionately about that role. Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was also archbishop of the Argentine capital before his election as pope in 2013. The crowd applauded Leo after he mentioned his predecessor.
Earlier in the day, Leo visited a center for people with disabilities in Buenos Aires. He spoke in support of charity and care for people in vulnerable circumstances, saying that a nation’s progress can also be measured by how well it welcomes people with disabilities and special needs.
The South American trip began Friday, Nov. 6, and includes Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. After visiting Uruguay, Leo arrived in Argentina on Sunday, Nov. 8. Peru is the final stop; the pontiff lived there for many years as a missionary and bishop. The Vatican said before the trip that Leo was recovering well from surgery to remove a lung tumor on Oct. 13, and that doctors had identified no medical reason to prevent him from traveling. Brazil is not included in the itinerary.
