Argentina prepares for historic Pope Leo XIV visit

Argentina gears up for an unprecedented papal visit, as Pope Leo XIV arrives in Buenos Aires on Sunday for the first papal excursion to the nation in nearly four decades. The devout Catholic populace anticipates a plethora of public gatherings, with added gravity due to the absence of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who never returned to Argentina during his tenure as head of the Catholic Church.

The last papal visit to Argentina was made by John Paul II in April 1987, five years after his 1982 visit amidst the Malvinas War.

Leo's four-day visit, spanning from November 8 to 11, will encompass Buenos Aires City, Córdoba, and Luján, marking the inaugural tour of Latin America as Pope, alongside trips to Uruguay and Peru. Beyond its religious importance, this pilgrimage could also spotlight ideological disagreements between Pope Leo and President Javier Milei's administration on matters such as social policy, care for the disabled, socioeconomic inequality, and artificial intelligence development.

Born in the United States and holding Peruvian citizenship, Pope Leo expressed in a recent X post his intention to strengthen faith, rekindle hope, reignite charitable spirit, and reinforce the proclamation of the Gospel with joy during his South American tour. President Milei warmly welcomed the pontiff, stating via social media, "Your Holiness, Argentina awaits you with great joy.

It will therefore be a great honor to welcome you to our country. May your visit strengthen faith, renew hope and bring a message of peace to all Argentinians. We look forward to welcoming you, Holy Father!"

While the Milei government champions the visit as an "apostolic" mission, Pope Leo's perspectives on the Church's social doctrine and the oversight of evolving technologies may present potential points of contention in Argentina, a country currently grappling with economic challenges and expressing dissatisfaction with the government's fiscal policies. Officials briefed on the matter mentioned they do not foresee the pontiff interfering in domestic politics, but emphasize his liberty to voice his opinions.