In short
- Pope Leo XIV arrived in Buenos Aires on the second stop of a 12-day Latin America tour, three weeks after surgery for lung cancer.
- Pope Leo XIV said: “The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy.”
- President Javier Milei said his government was working to avoid “punishing the Argentines of tomorrow in order to benefit the Argentines of today”.
- The Vatican described the pope as a “71-year-old who has undergone an operation” and said no extraordinary measures were being taken over his health.
- Milei, who says he will seek re-election next year, called Pope Francis “undoubtedly the most important Argentine in history”, after previously calling him “evil on earth”.
Pope Leo XIV used his arrival in Buenos Aires to argue that Argentina’s economy must benefit everyone, including the poor, in a critique of President Javier Milei’s austerity measures. The pontiff landed in the Argentine capital on the second stop of a 12-day Latin America tour, three weeks after surgery for lung cancer.
What did Pope Leo XIV say about Argentina’s economy?
Speaking on arrival, the pope said: “The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy.” He stressed the situation of those who, “despite hard work, nonetheless struggle to meet their household’s needs”, and urged that “particular concern be shown for those affected by illness, dependency and disability” — remarks that came as Milei’s government has made controversial cuts to disability assistance.
The Argentina leg is the second stop on a 12-day Latin America tour that the pope began after surgery for lung cancer, and was expected to be the most politically sensitive part of the journey.
How did Javier Milei respond?
Milei said his government was working to avoid “punishing the Argentines of tomorrow in order to benefit the Argentines of today”. In his own address welcoming the pope to Argentina, the president defended his libertarian policies, saying the rights to life, liberty and property are the backbone of Argentina’s constitution and of Western democracies.
Milei, who has said he will seek re-election next year and is a strong supporter of US President Donald Trump, struck a conciliatory tone towards the pope’s predecessor. He called Pope Francis an “exceptional figure” and “undoubtedly the most important Argentine in history”, after having previously called him “evil on earth” and a “communist”. Before the visit he wrote on X that Argentina awaited the pope “with immense joy”.
Why is the Argentina leg politically sensitive?
Milei’s programme of slashing public spending has been denounced by the Catholic Church for hitting the poorest hardest, criticism the pope has echoed with his own rebuke of the president’s austerity.
What did the pope say about democracy?
Pope Leo urged Argentina to safeguard its democracy, saying: “Those who exercise authority have a duty to act with prudence, to acknowledge the limits of the power entrusted to them, and to direct their decisions toward the good of the entire community.” He said strengthening democracy required a “willingness to listen” and the “careful use of words”.
How is the pope’s health during the tour?
The Vatican said no extraordinary measures were being taken in relation to the pope’s health, describing him as a “71-year-old who has undergone an operation” rather than someone with a “permanent medical condition”. Last month’s operation to remove a tumour was successful and his doctors say the cancer has not spread. The trip to Argentina has been described as a homage to Francis, who did not return to his homeland during his own papacy.
Frequently asked questions
What did Pope Leo XIV say about Argentina’s economy?
Pope Leo XIV said the economy “must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy”, and urged particular concern for those affected by illness, dependency and disability.
How did Javier Milei respond to the pope?
Milei said his government was working to avoid “punishing the Argentines of tomorrow in order to benefit the Argentines of today”, and defended the rights to life, liberty and property as the backbone of Argentina’s constitution.
Why is the pope’s Argentina visit politically sensitive?
Milei’s public spending cuts have been denounced by the Catholic Church for hitting the poorest hardest, and the Argentina leg was expected to be the most politically sensitive of the pope’s 12-day Latin America tour.
How is Pope Leo XIV’s health during the trip?
The Vatican said no extraordinary measures were being taken and described him as a “71-year-old who has undergone an operation”. His doctors say last month’s operation to remove a tumour was successful and the cancer has not spread.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
