Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Argentina for Four-Day Visit Amid Austerity Debate

Papal Visit Begins

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Argentina on Sunday from Uruguay, where his tour began, for a four-day visit to the country. The visit is the first by a pontiff to Argentina since 1987. The 71-year-old pontiff is on a 12-day South American tour that will continue to Peru until November 17.

Meeting With Milei

Pope Leo XIV held a private meeting with President Javier Milei at the Casa Rosada at 5:50 p.m. local time on Sunday. He then delivered an institutional address at the Palacio Libertad at 6:30 p.m. Milei, a libertarian leader and close ally of US President Donald Trump, greeted the pope at the foot of his plane on arrival.

Austerity and Social Issues

The Vatican has criticised aspects of Milei's austerity programme, saying spending cuts have hit the poorest sections of society hardest. Milei came to power in 2023 after years of centre-left Peronist rule. He has defended the austerity measures as necessary to control inflation. Annual inflation has fallen from more than 200% to 33% under his economic programme.

The poverty rate has increased to 32.3 percent in September. Surveys indicate that Milei's popularity has declined ahead of elections next year. Argentines continue to face the effects of subsidy cuts, public-sector job losses and business closures, which have put pressure on household budgets.

Itinerary and Security

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit a home for disabled people and a prison and celebrate three open-air masses. The Church has said it expects a total of seven million faithful at the various events. Argentina's State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) said it detained a suspect in Campana, northeast of Buenos Aires, accused of making death threats against the Pope. The national government has deployed 50,000 personnel from federal forces, SIDE, the Penitentiary Service, and local police forces for the visit.

Sources

• france24.com: Pope Leo arrives in Argentina amid divisions over Milei’s austerity - France 24
• timesofindia.indiatimes.com: Pope Leo heads to Milei's Argentina: Austerity, poverty and Iran war in focus - The Times of India
• telesurenglish.net: Pope Leo XIV Argentina Visit: 4-Day Trip Begins With Milei Meeting - teleSUR English
• forth.news: Pope Leo Arrives in Argentina, First US‑Born Pope to Visit Since 1987 | Forth

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.