Ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Argentina, the head of the Church's Social Pastoral, Bishop Dante Braida of La Rioja, has said that there are «à sectores muy postergados» in the country that need a helping hand, and that the faithful should listen closely to what the pontiff has to say. The Church has again defended the social justice the Pope preaches and argued that Argentina needs «à more participatory democracy» than the one it has today.
Braida's remarks were widely read as a comment on the economic model of President Javier Milei, against which the Argentine Church has openly spoken out for some time. The bishop stressed that «à the Pope comes for all Argentines» and that his messages should be heard. He did not name the government, but his words fell on a debate already marked by criticism from bishops over rising poverty, unemployment and cuts to programmes for vulnerable groups.
The government moved quickly to play down any political dimension of the trip. Sandra Pettovello, the minister of Human Capital, told Radio Mitre that the Pope «à will in no way comment on local politics» and described the Casa Rosada's relationship with Argentina's bishops as «à good and fluid». She said the Church would speak about pastoral matters, the protection of the vulnerable and poverty, and claimed that in recent days she had spoken with people in both the Argentine Church and the Vatican, who had no intention of delivering a political message.
Braida, speaking to Radio 10, responded that Leo XIV would find a country «à that suffers needs and is searching for the path» towards unity. He noted that more and more people are turning to institutions for food and other basic needs, praised those who work in solidarity to assist them, and argued that such aid must be accompanied by tools that let people take an active part in society, because «à development requires human promotion», including access to work. He called on the country to prepare to listen to the Pope's message.
Pettovello maintained her position, saying that the country's bishops «à already know» that the Pope will not comment on local politics, and that any political reading of the visit directed at a government shows a lack of understanding of the Vatican. Presidential spokesman Adrián Ravier said the national government continues to work in coordination with the Holy See, the Apostolic Nunciature and the Argentine Episcopal Conference to ensure the visit goes smoothly. He added that an advance team from the Vatican had arrived in the country to finalise protocol, security, logistics and communication arrangements, and would carry out technical tours and coordination meetings in the coming days.