Pope Leo XIV Calls for Church Unity and Social Justice During Argentina Visit

Pope Leo XIV traveled to Buenos Aires cathedral on the evening of the fourth day of his Latin American journey, where he urged bishops to keep the preaching of the Gospel at the center of their ministry, Vatican Media reported.

The journey marks the first visit by a Catholic pope to Argentina in nearly 40 years. While former Pope Francis came from the country, he never visited during his pontificate.

Contrasting approaches define the reception of the papal visit. Vatican Media detailed a homily focused on spiritual unity, forgiveness, and pastoral outreach to the vulnerable. Meanwhile, lsm.lv reported that Pope Leo XIV strongly criticized the harsh austerity measures enacted by Argentine President Javier Milei.

According to lsm.lv, the pontiff insisted that the economy must serve people rather than people serving the economy, specifically defending pensioners, individuals with disabilities, and those in poverty against Milei’s decision to reduce support.

Milei previously criticized Pope Francis for his active advocacy of social justice, comparing state social support programs to communism, as reported by lsm.lv.

Separately, Pope Leo XIV’s recent cancer surgery and planned extensive foreign visit in November have reignited questions about Vatican succession procedures. Vatican foreign representative Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said that many had imagined Leo XIV almost invulnerable because of his age and good physical form, but that it had become clear the pope is mortal and can become seriously ill.

The Catholic Church has no clear papal replacement procedure and no permanent deputy who would automatically assume papal powers in case of illness.

Canon law experts are not unanimous on whether a resignation letter would resolve all legal questions if a pope could no longer express his will. The absence of a formal succession safeguard leaves the leadership of the Catholic Church heavily dependent on one person’s health.

In Buenos Aires, Pope Leo XIV addressed local clergy inside the historic cathedral dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity, emphasizing reconciliation and pastoral care for the unemployed, young people forced to emigrate, and marginalized communities. Eight of Pope Francis’s closest relatives attended the vespers service, presenting the current pontiff with a white rose as a token of continuity.