{
  "id": 19068869,
  "title": "Pope Leo delivers stinging rebuke of Milei’s austerity measures during Argentina visit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/pope-leo-delivers-stinging-rebuke-of-mileis-austerity-measures-during",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T02:11:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian",
    "slug": "the-guardian",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/09/pope-leo-argentina-visit-speech-javier-milei-austerity"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV has harshly criticized Argentine President Javier Milei's austerity measures during his visit to Buenos Aires, emphasizing that the economy must benefit all rather than the other way around. \"The economy must be at the service of the people, not the other way around,\" he declared, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience. The 71-year-old pontiff, who recently underwent surgery for lung cancer, is on a 12-day Latin American tour, his first visit to Argentina in nearly four decades. Milei, known for his controversial language, is a close ally of US President Donald Trump. Pope Leo's visit aims to mend divisions in the country and address deep-seated grievances over the government's policies, particularly the cuts to disability assistance. He also urged Milei to listen more carefully and use his words wisely, stressing the importance of democratic values and personal integrity. The Argentine leg of the tour aims to boost the church's waning influence in a nation that has seen its Catholic population drop from nearly 90% in the 1960s to 57.7% today. Pope Leo plans to visit a home for disabled people, a prison, and celebrate three open-air masses, expecting up to 7 million attendees.",
  "summary": "Pontiff tells Argentina’s president the economy must benefit all on second stop of 12-day Latin America tour Pope Leo XIV has delivered a stinging critique of Argentine president Javier Milei’s harsh austerity measures, insisting growth must benefit all in a speech met with rapturous applause in Buenos Aires. “The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Pope Leo rebukes Milei's austerity measures during Argentina visit",
    "Economy must benefit all, not the other way around, Pope declares",
    "Milei, close ally of US President Trump, faces criticism"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The pontiff’s direct challenge to the administration signals an attempt to reclaim the Catholic Church's fading social influence by positioning religious leadership against the government's controversial economic policies.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}