Pope Leo XIV will arrive in Buenos Aires on Sunday, the second stop of a Latin American tour that begins on Friday. His visit to Argentina comes at a moment of visible friction between the Catholic Church and the government of President Javier Milei, whose libertarian and far-right agenda has drawn criticism from the country's bishops.
In Argentina, the Catholic hierarchy has emerged as one of the principal institutional voices against the far right. Church leaders have spoken out on social policy, poverty and the distribution of resources, positioning themselves in public debate in ways that sit uneasily with a government that has pursued sweeping market reforms and cuts to state spending.
The Pope's trip therefore carries political weight beyond its religious character. Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States, is expected to meet with the faithful and local authorities during his stay, and his remarks will be closely watched for any signal about the Church's position toward the Milei administration.
Observers in Buenos Aires note that Argentina has a long tradition of close, and at times contentious, ties between the Vatican and its governments, a relationship that has grown more complex since the election of Argentine-born Pope Francis in 2013. Leo XIV's visit thus stands at the intersection of faith, national politics and the Church's public role in a country deeply divided over the direction of its economy and institutions.