Leo XIV draws some 650,000 to Córdoba with a homily on holiness

Pope Leo XIV addressed an audience of approximately 650,000 people in Córdoba, central Argentina, on Tuesday, delivering a homily focused on the concepts of holiness and the practical application of faith in daily life. While en route to the city, the pontiff departed from Buenos Aires at 7:30 a.m. and arrived in Córdoba 1.5 hours later.

The Mass took place at the expansive grounds of the Argentine Aircraft Factory, featuring over 200 hectares and 50 large screens to accommodate the large crowd. Participants traversed from neighboring provinces by bus, walked the remaining distance before dawn, and camped outdoors for the occasion. Among them were 28 altar boys from Jujuy, a city 900 kilometers distant, who contributed to their journey by selling food and organizing pet shows.

Dora Ponce, a 76-year-old attendee, expressed her disappointment in not witnessing the popemobile pass, opting instead to follow the ceremony on a screen. During his homily, Pope Leo XIV referenced revered figures such as Father Brochero and Mama Antula, both deeply venerated within the country's interior, and emphasized Córdoba's rich religious history, notably the Jesuit presence in the 16th century, whose Block has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Following the Mass, the Pope privately welcomed a group of approximately 20 individuals from various social movements, including Alba Camargo, who endured abduction by the military dictatorship (1976-1983) and lost relatives in forced disappearances. Camargo solicited Pope Leo XIV to identify the disappeared and implore those with knowledge of those crimes, including clergy, to come forward.

The Vatican has not disclosed information regarding this meeting. In the afternoon, the Pope addressed the throngs on the balcony of the Archbishopric, a venue where John Paul II addressed an audience in 1987. In his remarks, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the stages in the lives of priests and consecrated individuals when remaining presents a tangible manifestation of self-offering.

This event garnered less attendance than the estimated 2.5 million people in Buenos Aires and the anticipated 1 million in Córdoba. On Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate his final Mass in Argentina in Luján, situated in Buenos Aires province, prior to his departure to Peru, where President Keiko Fujimori will receive him that evening.