Pope Leo XIV Leaves Uruguay for Tense Visit to Argentina
After a mass in Florida, Uruguay, the pope heads to Buenos Aires to meet President Javier Milei amid sharp church criticism of austerity policies.
By Lorenzo Evans ·
Pope Leo XIV concluded his South American tour's first stop in Uruguay on Sunday before traveling to Argentina.
The visit to the city of Florida, north of Montevideo, marked the first papal trip to Uruguay in nearly 40 years. Tens of thousands gathered in the main square for the celebration of the Virgin of the Thirty-three. The Vatican estimated that 50,000 people attended the event. This figure far exceeds the local population of approximately 40,000 residents. Some attendees walked several kilometers to reach the cathedral.
During the homily, Leo addressed the role of women in preserving Catholic faith. He acknowledged the difficulty mothers face when their children leave the church. "You taught your children to pray, and today they no longer do so," he said. He urged them to continue sharing their beliefs. Leo referenced the tradition that 33 independence patriots carried a Guaraní statue during the declaration of independence from the Brazilian Empire on August 25, 1825.
The pope's arrival in Argentina presents a more complex political environment. President Javier Milei is scheduled to greet Leo at the airport. The two leaders will hold a welcome ceremony and exchange speeches. Milei has staked his presidency on cutting social spending to fix Argentina's economy. He recently called social justice an aberration. The Catholic Church has criticized these austerity measures, which have slashed the healthcare budget by 48% in real terms since December 2023.
Poverty in Argentina reached 32.3% of the population in the first half of 2026. This rate affects about 15 million people. Milei's government has framed the cuts as necessary reforms to eliminate waste. He has also promoted artificial investment with promises of limited regulation. Leo has warned that the rapid development of AI poses risks to humanity and the environment. He has called for strict international safeguards on the technology.
Leo is also completing a task left by his predecessor, Pope Francis. Francis, an Argentine Jesuit, never returned to his home country during his 12-year pontificate. Tensions remain in Argentina regarding Francis's legacy, particularly his advocacy for the poor. Posters in Buenos Aires this weekend read "At last, a Lion who unites." This phrase plays on the Spanish word for Leo, which also means lion, a symbol often used by Milei on social media.
A person was arrested in Campana on Saturday over death threats against Leo. The arrest occurred less than 24 hours after the state intelligence agency received the tip. Leo is expected to visit Peru at the end of his tour. He spent two decades as a missionary priest there before his election.
