Pope Leo XIV closes Argentina visit amid debate over Milei's cuts

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Argentina on November 8 during a 12-day South American trip, according to CNN Brasil. Argentina followed a stop in Uruguay, France24 reported.

Security concerns accompanied the arrival. RT en Español reported that Argentina's State Intelligence Secretariat announced on November 7 that a person had been detained over death threats against the pope.

Separately, police detained a 25-year-old man near the papal stage in Palermo on November 8. He was posing as a volunteer firefighter and carrying false documentation and four communications devices, according to Infobae. The supplied reports do not establish a connection between the two detentions.

On November 9, Leo celebrated Mass in Buenos Aires before an estimated 2.5 million people, his largest gathering yet, according to Deutsche Welle. Crowd estimates differed: RTBF put attendance at two million. President Javier Milei attended, DER SPIEGEL reported.

The pope's message put the treatment of vulnerable people at the centre of the visit. He visited Cottolengo Don Orione, which cares for more than 400 people and has been affected by Milei's cuts, according to Euronews. He said a nation's progress should be judged by its treatment of those most in need.

At a Buenos Aires meeting with business leaders, trade unionists, workers and representatives of popular movements, Leo condemned unemployment as an injury to human dignity, ABC reported. Union and social movement leaders interpreted his remarks as support for their campaign against Milei, according to Perfil.com. That was their reading of the speech, not a reported papal endorsement of their campaign.

The pope also held private meetings with clergy abuse survivors on November 9. He pledged to reinforce safeguards and listen to victims, according to Al Jazeera.

On November 10, the visit moved to Córdoba, where an estimated 650,000 people attended Mass, Euronews reported. Leo urged worshippers to open their hearts and embrace their faith. Earlier reporting from Excélsior had put expected attendance at 800,000, rather than reporting that number as an actual turnout.

By November 11, pilgrims were gathering near the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján for the Mass intended to close the Argentina visit, according to Perfil.com. The supplied coverage does not yet confirm that the celebration has taken place.

The political debate remains focused on how directly Leo's social message challenges Milei. ARD Tagesschau described his criticism of the president's social policy as clear, while Infobae reported that the government was seeking to emphasise the visit's religious messages and return to its own agenda.

The immediate scheduled events are the closing Mass in Luján and a meeting with the remaining prisoners at Devoto prison. Infobae reported that the Mass was set for 10 a.m. on November 11, while El Cronista reported the planned prison visit ahead of the facility's definitive closure.

The broader itinerary continues toward Peru, but the supplied coverage gives no confirmed arrival time or detailed programme there. It also reports no government policy change in response to Leo's appeals.