Pope Leo XIV travels to Argentina and meets Milei, target of church criticism for social cuts
First papal visit to the country in 39 years occurs one month after lung cancer surgery; expectation is that the pontiff will defend the most vulnerable
TL;DR
- Pope Leo XIV is visiting Argentina to meet President Javier Milei.
- This is the first papal visit to Argentina in 39 years.
- The Pope, who was a missionary in South America for two decades, is on a 12-day trip to the region.
- The visit follows a surgery for lung cancer three weeks prior.
- The Argentine Church has criticized Milei's government for cutting social spending on essential services.
- Milei's government has focused on reducing the welfare state to control inflation and reactivate the economy.
- Argentina's poverty rate rose to 32.3% in September, though inflation has decreased.
- Milei previously made critical remarks about Pope Francis but has since moderated his tone.
- Public enthusiasm for the papal visit in Buenos Aires appears low.
- Before Argentina, Pope Leo XIV celebrated a mass in Uruguay, urging respect for women amidst high rates of gender-based violence.