Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Argentina and Meets President Javier Milei

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Argentina on Sunday for his first official visit to Latin America, marking the first papal trip to the country in nearly four decades.

The pontiff landed at the Jorge Newbery airport in Buenos Aires at 16:33 on Sunday, following his intense tour in Uruguay.

Upon arrival, the Pope was received by President Javier Milei at the airport, entered the Plaza de Mayo escorted by the honor guard on horseback, and held a half-hour private meeting with the president at the door. President Milei called to give “a warm welcome” to the pontiff, stating that his visit initiated “days of great joy and national reflection,” while expressing gladness to see the political arc present.

The pontiff subsequently delivered a political speech before the political leadership, diplomatic corps, and civil society representatives at the Palacio Libertad — sede del Centro Cultural Domingo Faustino Sarmiento — in Buenos Aires. Addressing the nation amid the government’s austerity measures and spending reductions targeting public hospitals, universities, and pensions, Leo XIV emphasized the protection of vulnerable populations under President Javier Milei’s mandate.

La economía debe estar al servicio de las personas y no las personas al servicio de la economía, stated the Pope, insisting that growth must benefit everyone and highlighting the difficult situation of those who still struggle despite working hard amid three years of austerity. The speech received enthusiastic applause from attendees.

During his address, Leo XIV urged the political class to learn how to coexist despite differences in thought and to stay true to Argentina’s history while invoking Borges and Gardel. He noted that democracy, public participation, freedom of expression, and trust in institutions are part of the heritage that must be custodied and strengthened by each generation.

Echoing a message delivered ten years earlier in September 2016 by his predecessor Francisco, the Pope concluded his address by stating, Que el Señor los haga crecer como pueblo before invoking Our Lady of Luján.

More on this story: Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Uruguay for South American Tour

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