Pope Leo XIV arrived in Argentina on Sunday, November 8, 2026, for a historic three-day visit, the first by a pontiff to the country in 39 years.
A Papal Visit Amid Tension
The pope was welcomed at Buenos Aires’ Aeroparque Jorge Newbery by President Javier Milei, marking the start of a trip characterized by deep ideological differences between the two leaders. The Guardian reported that the pope’s first full day will be a visit to a Catholic-run home for disabled people, a facility directly impacted by Milei’s austerity measures.
Speaking to Milei during a ceremony at the Casa Rosada, Pope Leo delivered a message that was widely seen as a subtle critique of the president’s policies.
Authority is most authentic when it is exercised as service,
the pope said, 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.
Reuters reported via Al Monitor.
The ideological clash is stark. Fernando Montero, the coordinator of the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione home, told The Guardian that [The government] cut off the supply of medications, special foods and diapers. They haven’t delivered any since last November. The matter is in court.
He added that the pope and Milei have completely opposing ideologies
, saying Milei is a hyper-capitalist
who believes those who compete the most should be rewarded
, while the pope teaches that a person’s worth is not measured by productivity.
The Argentine Conference of bishops has also been vocal, writing to the health minister on April 1 to denounce the serious situation facing numerous institutions dedicated to the care and support of people with disabilities in our country.
The Guardian reports that while the ministry has met with the bishops twice, the impasse remains unresolved.
The pope’s arrival from Uruguay was on an Aerolíneas Argentinas flight, according to Eltrecetv. Milei’s sister, Karina Milei, who serves as the secretary general of the Presidency, also participated in the official reception on the tarmac at Aeroparque, where they greeted the leader of the Catholic Church.
Following the airport welcome, Pope Leo was received by Minister Pablo Quirno at the Plaza San Martín in downtown Buenos Aires, where a large number of faithful awaited in the area. The pontiff then proceeded to the Casa Rosada for the private encounter with President Milei, which was scheduled for the afternoon.
The pope’s speech to Milei, who has said he will seek reelection next year, urged Argentina to safeguard its democracy. Efforts should be made to promote whatever creates opportunities, stimulates private initiative and ensures that economic growth also benefits those who are disadvantaged,
Leo stated in his address.
🔴 Pope visits Argentina as Milei cuts disability funding, clashing on AI deregulation Pope Leo XIV arrives in Argentina on Sunday for a three-day visit—the first papal trip to the country since John Paul II in 1987. His itinerary begins at Cottolengo Don Orione, a Catholic-run… pic.twitter.com/GxJ4F52ths
Milei Seeks to Repair Relations with the Vatican
Milei’s relationship with the Catholic Church has been fraught. In 2020, he called Pope Francis an imbecile
and the representative of the Evil One on Earth.
The Guardian notes that Milei claims to have apologized when he met Francis in the Vatican in February 2024. Milei eventually sought to repair relations with the Vatican, visiting Francis at the Holy See.
The pope’s itinerary emphasizes his focus on the marginalized. The Guardian and Eltrecetv both confirm his schedule includes a visit to the Cottolengo Don Orione home and the Complejo Penitenciario Federal de Devoto prison.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Argentina on Sunday afternoon for the second leg of his 12-day Apostolic Journey to three South American nations. The Pope was welcomed to Argentina by President Javier Milei. pic.twitter.com/ePczX2ROO6
Reuters via Al Monitor cites Fortunato Mallimaci, a sociologist at Argentina’s Conicet research agency, who said the visit will create a sense of unity and energy among those who feel excluded by Milei’s economic program.
Buenos Aires University found 57.7% of Argentines identify as Catholic and 17.4% as evangelical, compared with 76.5% and 9% nearly 20 years ago. Last month, Buenos Aires archbishop Jorge García Cuerva said Leo XIV would find a divided Argentina and a large number of very poor brothers and sisters.
What Happens Next
Pope Leo’s visit continues on Monday, November 9, with a visit to the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione home in Claypole. The Cottolengo Don Orione is a Catholic-run home for disabled people with about 400 residents. The pope will then celebrate Mass at the Monument to the Spaniards in Palermo.
Lanacion reports his full itinerary includes a trip to Córdoba to celebrate Mass at the grounds of FAdeA, the state-owned military aircraft factory, and a final mass at the Basilica of Luján before departing for Peru.
Welcome to Argentina, Pope Leo XIV…!!! 🇻🇦🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/IAvot1RKLR
From the disability home, the pope will go on to Buenos Aires and meet business and union leaders at an auditorium of the Universidad Católica Argentina in Puerto Madero. The visit will conclude with a farewell ceremony at the Ministro Pistarini International Airport.
The visit is being coordinated by the Ministry of Security through a Unified Command, affecting approximately 50,000 personnel from the four federal forces, the SIDE, the Prison Service, and the police of the involved jurisdictions. They will be permanently supported by the custody capsule of the Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie.
The pope is on a 12-day tour across South America. His speech to Milei is a closely watched address, as Milei is a libertarian seen as a close ally of US President Donald Trump.
The pope, who has warned that artificial intelligence could lead the world down a path of unending war, stressed that technological progress must be matched by ethical consciousness
, a remark that touched on another of Milei’s priorities as the Argentine president has championed AI development.
Earlier coverage: Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Argentina, Expected to Challenge Milei
