Kritik an Präsident Milei: Papst mahnt in Argentinien mehr Rücksicht auf Schwache an

Pope Leo XIV. has admonished Argentine President Javier Milei to show greater compassion towards the weaker members of society. The head of the Catholic Church stated this during the start of his visit to Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. Argentina, Milei's homeland, is the second stop on Leo's twelve-day tour of South America, following Peru, the country of his deceased predecessor, Pope Francis.

Milei, an American-born economist, urged the gathering to "take care of the weak, forgive, share, and support those in need." He emphasized that economic growth should benefit those who face greater hardships. Under Milei's administration, the gap between the rich and the poor has widened since his inauguration. The radical economic policies of Milei, known as "chain saw policy," led to a significant reduction in inflation and economic growth.

However, many criticize the social hardships accompanying these changes. According to official statistics, 15 out of Argentina's 46 million inhabitants live below the income threshold. The country also suffers from brain drain as people leave in search of a better life abroad. Milei received personal greetings from Pope Francis at the Buenos Aires airport.

It is the first papal visit to Argentina in nearly 40 years, after Francis never returned to his home country after becoming Pope. The Pope is concerned about families, particularly the plight of those who leave the country to pursue their dreams in Europe. He urged nations to question why their young people have to leave their homes in search of their dreams.

Education, vocational training, organized crime, human trafficking, and corruption must be addressed, said Leo. Milei, a pro-freedom advocate, stressed the value of freedom, derived from the Bible, along with the rights to life, liberty, and property. Leo applauded critical passages in his speech, too. The president's admonition to show compassion towards the weak comes amid a domestic political controversy.

In 2025, Argentina's lower house of Congress approved a state of emergency law to improve the situation of people with disabilities. Milei vetoed it, but it was later reinstated by the Congress after two rounds of votes. This hadn't happened in over 20 years. The number of Catholics in Argentina is also declining, with estimates suggesting that about half the population remains religious.

Globally, there are over 390 million Catholics, far more than in Europe. Worldwide, there are approximately 1.4 billion Catholic followers. After three days in Argentina, Leo heads to Peru for his second home, where he served as a missionary and bishop for two decades. He holds Peruvian citizenship as well. Peru's right-wing populist President Keiko Fujimori, whose father previously held the office, will welcome him.

During his bishopric, Leo criticized Fujimori multiple times. His itinerary includes a trek up 3,700 meters into the Andes, which is deemed risky due to thin air, especially considering his lung surgery in late October, during which a malignant tumor was removed from his right lung lobe. He was declared cancer-free by the treating physicians. Despite the strenuous journey, Leo has remained in good health so far.