Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Argentina has highlighted differences between his calls to protect vulnerable people and President Javier Milei’s austerity policies. (Foto: Instagram)
Pope Leo XIV’s first visit to Argentina in nearly 40 years has highlighted differences between Catholic social teaching and President Javier Milei’s economic agenda. In public remarks, Leo has stressed protecting vulnerable people, the responsibility of government leaders and the need for economic growth to benefit the poor, contrasting with the austerity measures introduced by Milei’s government.
The visit also marks a pope’s return to the birthplace of Francis, who died in April 2025 after 12 years as pontiff. Francis had a strained relationship with Milei, who called him an “idiot” during the 2023 presidential campaign over his support for social justice. At a meeting with Leo this year, however, Milei praised Francis as “the most important Argentine in history.” Leo’s Argentina visit is scheduled to continue through Wednesday, Nov. 11. He will then travel to Peru, the final stop on a South American trip that began in Uruguay.
At an official reception on Sunday, Nov. 8, Leo delivered a speech to government officials, civil society representatives and diplomats that addressed issues sensitive to the Argentine government. Without naming Milei, he said economic growth should reach the most vulnerable and that leaders’ decisions should serve the good of the entire community. “The economy must serve the person, not the person serve the economy,” the pope said. He also expressed solidarity with families facing economic uncertainty, unemployed people, older adults and workers who struggle to support their households despite having jobs.
Milei, who took office in December 2023, has cut public spending and subsidies, reduced public-sector employment and scaled back the state’s role in various areas, aiming to balance the budget and control inflation. The strategy helped bring annual inflation down from more than 200% when he took office to about 33% in 2026. The fiscal adjustment has also had social costs: cuts have affected public services and social programs, while Argentine families continue to struggle to regain purchasing power.
During the visit, Leo also drew attention to people with disabilities, those who need care and people who are ill. He said society should care for them, ease their suffering and accompany them, ensuring they know their lives retain value regardless of their circumstances. On Monday, Nov. 9, he visited Cottolengo Don Orione, a Catholic institution in Claypole, in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, which houses more than 400 people with disabilities. The facility faces financial difficulties linked to delays in public payments and the impact of austerity on care services. Leo said people with disabilities are not a burden but a blessing, and that a nation’s progress should be judged by how it welcomes people with disabilities and specific needs. The government has reduced funding for specialized care programs and disability benefits, drawing criticism from advocacy groups and lawmakers.
The National Disability Agency, known as Andis, is under investigation over suspected corruption in medication-purchasing contracts. The case includes allegations involving Karina Milei, the president’s sister and secretary-general of the Presidency. The matter emerged in August 2025 after recordings attributed to Diego Spagnuolo, then Andis director, were made public. In them, he described an alleged kickback scheme and named Karina as a possible recipient of payments. Investigators are examining suspected contract steering, inflated prices and improper payments. Karina has been named in the allegations, but her involvement in the alleged scheme has not been proven. Argentina’s Congress is also debating a proposal to increase funding for disability services in the next budget; Milei opposes the measure.
Leo called for cooperation among South American countries, pointing to the region’s historical and cultural ties. He said South America has significant human and natural resources, and that its shared traditions provide broad opportunities for cooperation, to which Argentina could contribute its experience and capabilities. He also urged countries to defend their interests through dialogue, respect for the law and agreements, saying the region had found ways to negotiate through past tensions. His appeal came amid diplomatic disagreements between Milei and left-leaning South American governments, particularly that of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Milei has also strengthened political and economic ties with the United States under President Donald Trump.
