Pope tells Argentina’s Milei leaders should know limits of power

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Argentina on Sunday, urging the country's leaders to prioritize the needs of ordinary citizens over the economy. While the pope did not directly criticize President Javier Milei's austerity measures, he emphasized that "the economy must be at the service of the people." Milei's policies have drawn harsh criticism from Argentina's Catholic Church, particularly cuts to social services, pensions, and public universities.

Despite inflation falling from over 200% to around 33% under Milei's administration, households continue to struggle financially. Milei, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, has defended his spending cuts as necessary to stabilize the economy. He previously dismissed Pope Francis as an "imbecile" but later softened his tone and met with the pontiff in Rome.

Pope Leo's visit to Buenos Aires marks the first papal visit to Argentina in nearly 40 years and is part of a broader tour of South America. The Pope stressed the importance of safeguarding democracy and urged leaders to act prudently for the benefit of the entire community. This visit comes ahead of Argentina's 2027 presidential election, in which Milei has indicated he will seek another term.