Pope Leo XIV began a three-day apostolic visit to Argentina on Sunday. It is the first trip by a pope to the country in 39 years. The visit follows a stay in Uruguay, and extensive security measures as well as large gatherings are planned for the events. The trip takes the pope through several regions of the country; the stops are in the city of Buenos Aires, in the province of Buenos Aires and in Córdoba.
The pope landed at Aeroparque Metropolitano airport in Buenos Aires. There he was greeted directly at the aircraft by President Javier Milei and government representatives. Leaders of the Argentine Bishops' Conference also received him. He then visited the monument to the national hero at Plaza San Martín, a central square in the capital where the national hero is honored with a monument.
At 5:50 p.m. an official meeting with Milei is scheduled at the government palace Casa Rosada. The first formal public event will take place at the Palacio Libertad, where an address by the pope is planned. The content and messages of the speeches were not yet known at the time of reporting, so it remains open which emphases the pope will set at his first public appearance.
The pastoral program focuses on the margins of society and on social support. A visit is planned to the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione facility in Claypole, which cares for more than 400 people with disabilities. The facility thus serves as an example of the outreach to those who live on the edges of society. The pope will also visit Devoto prison, where he will meet with 70 inmates.
At the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), meetings with trade union leaders, trade unionists and entrepreneurs are planned. This appointment connects representatives of the world of work and the economy with the church's concern for social responsibility. The events take place in the city of Buenos Aires, in the province of Buenos Aires and in Córdoba, where large public gatherings are expected.
The information comes from live reporting, so details may still change during the visit. Further information on speeches, reactions and the course of the large-scale events was not available at the time of reporting.