Pope Leo XIV delivered a stinging critique of President Javier Milei's harsh austerity measures during his visit to Buenos Aires on Sunday. Speaking shortly after landing in Argentina for the second leg of a Latin American tour, Leo insisted that growth must benefit everyone. "The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy," he stated.
Leo highlighted the struggles of those who "despite hard work, nonetheless struggle to meet their household's needs." He specifically advocated for the poor and pensioners, stating that "particular concern be shown for those affected by illness, dependency and disability." This was described as a veiled reference to the government's controversial cuts to disability assistance.
Addressing the combative style of President Milei, Leo noted that strengthening democracy requires a "willingness to listen" and the "careful use of words." Leo, who is retracing the steps of the late Pope Francis, arrived in Argentina from Uruguay, where he had begun his tour by condemning drug violence and urging an end to child poverty.
The visit marks the first time a pontiff has visited the homeland of the late Pope Francis in nearly four decades. Argentines have called on Leo to help bridge deep divisions caused by three years of austerity under Milei. Liliana Deblauwe, a 68-year-old retired teacher, expressed hope that the pope would unite the country "just like the World Cup unites us." Brian Inacio Rodriguez, a 26-year-old job seeker who traveled from Ushuaia to see the visit, said he hoped the pope brought "much peace to Argentina."
The pontiff is currently on a 12-day tour of the continent, occurring just three weeks after he underwent surgery for lung cancer. His visit to Argentina aims to boost flagging faith in a country where a University of Buenos Aires poll showed only 57.7 percent of people identify as Catholic, down from 90 percent in the 1960s. The Church expects a total of seven million faithful to attend various events, including three open-air masses.
President Milei took office promising to revive the economy and tame inflation by shrinking the welfare state, specifically targeting public hospitals, universities, and pensioners. Since he took power, the poverty rate has swung wildly, reaching 32.3 percent in September. While Milei's relationship with Leo has been cordial so far, the local Catholic Church has heavily criticized him for treating social services as a budgetary constraint. Milei has also faced criticism for restricting democratic freedoms, such as the right to protest, though he maintains a loyal base that supports his efforts to reduce inflation.
