Pope Leo celebrates Mass before estimated 2.5 million people in Buenos Aires
Leo XIV draws the largest crowd of his pontificate in Buenos Aires, where he also calls for greater protection of vulnerable people and defends workers' rights. Leer más
On Monday, Pope Leo XIV addressed an estimated crowd of 2.5 million people during a Mass in Buenos Aires, marking the largest gathering of his pontificate. The 71-year-old pontiff defended the significance of Christian faith as a pillar amid uncertainty during his homily at the Monumento a los Españoles in Palermo. Chanting "Olé, olé, León, León" and waving Argentine and Vatican flags, worshippers lined a two-kilometre stretch of Avenida del Libertador as Pope Leo XIV passed through in his popemobile.
The Mass concluded with a large communion ceremony, where laypeople distributed thousands of communion wafers to attendees. Pope Leo XIV also met with five victims of clergy abuse, listening to their stories and pledging to strengthen safeguarding measures within the Catholic Church. Later, he met with trade unionists and social movement representatives at the Argentine Catholic University, praising trade unions for defending those without a voice and criticizing President Javier Milei's policies on the labor market.
The pontiff emphasized the importance of including vulnerable citizens and people with disabilities, stating that a nation's progress is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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