Pope visits struggling Argentine home for people with disabilities to press economic message

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Pope Leo XIV reiterated on Monday his call for Argentina to prioritize the weakest and most vulnerable as he visited a home for individuals with disabilities, a poignant rebuke to President Javier Milei's austerity measures. The visit to the Cottolengo Don Orione center, located in the suburb of Claypole, south of the capital, underscores the institution's struggles due to the government's economic policies.

Founded in 1935 by an Italian priest, the center houses over 400 people with disabilities across 50 hectares. Milei's austerity measures have crippled the center's healthcare and social service programs, freezing payments and dismantling essential support. The Pope's visit precedes a Senate vote on a disability funding bill that Milei opposes.

During his first day in Argentina, the Pope delivered a speech emphasizing Catholic social teaching that the economy should serve people, not the other way around. This message, expected to be reiterated during his meeting with business leaders, union representatives, and popular movement leaders later Monday at the Catholic University of Argentina, aligns with his broader emphasis on prioritizing the most vulnerable in economic policy.