Pope Leo XIV moves to Argentina for meeting with Milei

Pope Leo XIV departed Uruguay on Sunday morning to begin the second leg of his three country tour across South America. He arrived in Argentina, where he will meet President Javier Milei at the Buenos Aires airport. This visit marks the first time a pope has traveled to Uruguay in nearly 40 years, a trip Leo used to emphasize the Catholic Church's role in a nation that has long moved toward secularism.

Before flying north, Leo spent Sunday in Florida, a city located north of Montevideo. He attended the annual celebration of the Virgen de los Treinta y Tres. This religious holiday commemorates the 33 independentist patriots who acquired a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary in 1825. According to local tradition, these figures carried the statue with them when they declared independence from the Brazilian Empire in Florida on August 25, 1825. Thousands of pilgrims gather in the city each year to pray before this specific icon.

The journey to Argentina follows a difficult medical period for the 71 year old pontiff. Leo underwent surgery on October 13 to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung. Despite this procedure, he has maintained a full schedule without shortening any public events. Witnesses describe him in good physical form, noting that he sings with force, climbs stairs with vigor, and greets crowds from his popemobile with enthusiasm. Some events have kept him out of his residence until past midnight, Roman time.

The meeting with Milei is expected to be politically delicate. Milei’s government has implemented sharp austerity measures that have strained relations with Argentine church leaders. These religious figures have criticized the administration for prioritizing economic orthodoxy over the needs of the poor. The president’s administration cut Argentina's health budget by 48% in real terms since he took office in December 2023. Furthermore, proposed cuts to the public university system have driven students into the streets in protest. The government defends these reductions as necessary reforms to fix the troubled Argentine economy and eliminate waste in federal bureaucracy.

Official data indicates that poverty in Argentina reached 32.3% of the population during the first half of 2026. This figure represents approximately 15 million people. Milei’s administration has also courted investments in artificial intelligence and data centers with promises of limited regulation. In contrast, Leo has warned about the threats that the AI race poses to humanity and the environment. He has called for strict, internationally monitored safeguards for its development.

This visit also serves to close gaps left by Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis. Francis, a Jesuit and former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, never returned to Argentina during his 12 year pontificate. This absence puzzled both his supporters and his critics. David Lantigua, a theology professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute, noted that there is much disagreement regarding Francis and his legacy in Argentina. The controversy stems largely from Bergoglio’s time in Buenos Aires, when he served as a priest in shantytowns and advocated for the poorest and most marginalized sectors of society.

Lantigua commented that observers may see similar tensions with Leo, describing this as the ministry left behind by Francis. Leo, who spent two decades as a missionary priest in Peru serving poor communities, is often viewed as a pastor in the image of his predecessor. He owes his papacy to the late pope. Luis Bahamondes, a professor at the University of Chile, stated that this visit will reinforce the idea of Leo as a leader who is not only spiritual but also political. Bahamondes described Leo as a figure of recognition who does not shy away from conflict and holds a powerful, respected voice worldwide.

Leo is scheduled to conclude his South American trip in Peru, his second homeland. The final stop will see him complete the remaining agenda of his multi country tour.