Pope Leo XIV Begins Argentine Leg Amid Political Tensions

Pope Leo XIV began the second phase of his South American tour on Sunday by visiting Argentina, a stop marked by political friction between the Vatican and the nation's libertarian government. The arrival follows a visit to Uruguay, where Leo concluded his itinerary with a Mass in the city of Florida, north of Montevideo.

In Uruguay, Leo celebrated the feast of the Virgin of the Thirty-three, a statue that tradition says was present when Uruguay declared independence from the Brazilian Empire on August 25, 1825. Tens of thousands gathered in Florida’s main square for the event. The Vatican estimated that 50,000 people attended, despite the city having a population of about 40,000. Leo addressed mothers and grandmothers, urging them to continue teaching their children the faith even when young people drifted away from church attendance.

The atmosphere in Argentina is charged. President Javier Milei is scheduled to greet the Pope at the airport and hold a welcome ceremony in Buenos Aires. Milei, who took office in December 2023, has overseen significant cuts to social spending to overhaul the country's economy. His government slashed the healthcare budget by 48 percent in real terms and has proposed cuts to the public university system, sparking student protests. Official data indicates that poverty reached 32.3 percent of the population, or about 15 million people, in the first half of 2026.

The Catholic Church has criticized Milei's austerity measures, arguing they hurt the poor and vulnerable. Milei has called social justice an aberration and described complaints about financial hardship as huge stupidity. His administration also promotes artificial intelligence investment with limited regulation, a stance that contrasts with Leo's warnings about the risks of the AI race to humanity and the environment. Karina Milei, the president's sister and secretary-general of the presidency, stated that the visit is purely religious and that the Pope belongs to all Argentines.

Political observers note the delicate nature of the meeting. Posters in Buenos Aires this weekend read 'At last, a Lion who unites,' playing on the Spanish word for Leo, León, and the lion imagery Milei uses for himself. Luis Bahamondes, a professor at the University of Chile, described Argentina as experiencing deep polarization and an economic crisis under a president who defies protocol. David Lantigua, a theology professor at the University of Notre Dame, said the visit completes unfinished business from the papacy of Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, who never returned to his home country during his twelve-year tenure.

Leo, who spent two decades as a missionary priest in Peru, will visit that country after leaving Argentina. His ministry in Peru focused on poor communities, mirroring the approach of Francis, who was a slum priest in Buenos Aires before becoming Pope. The Argentine state intelligence agency announced on Saturday that a person was arrested for making death threats against Leo. A federal court in Campana, located 70 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, ordered the arrest less than 24 hours after receiving a tip.

The Pope’s presence in the region aims to connect with local communities amid economic strain. In Uruguay, Leo emphasized the role of the Church in the nation's identity, even as the country became more secular. In Argentina, the focus shifts to the relationship between faith and politics, particularly regarding the treatment of the poor. The visit highlights the ongoing dialogue between the Vatican and governments in the region regarding social policy and economic reform.