Andrea Innocenti From November 8th to 11th, Pope Leo XIV embarked on a historic journey to South America, visiting three Argentine capitals and then Uruguay. The stated goal was to give a voice to those living on the margins, denounce unemployment , and remind people that dignity is an inalienable value. The meetings, messages, and concrete actions constituted a true pastoral marathon in a country still marked by deep social and political divisions.
Argentine Itinerary of Pope Leo XIV
Arrival in Buenos Aires and meeting with the president
The passage through Ezeiza Airport marked the beginning of a series of intense meetings. The Pontiff was welcomed into the Casa Rosada, where he shook hands with President Javier Milei, emphasizing the importance of dialogue between Church and State.
During the meeting, Leo XIV recalled that depriving a person of work is not only equivalent to taking away an income, but also affects the dignity, cohesion, and sense of belonging of the entire community.
Visit to Cottolengo and the world of work
The following afternoon he saw the Holy Father at Don Orione's Cottolengo in Claypole, a true "village of charity" run by the Orionine Family.
There, among his brothers and sisters with disabilities, Leo XIV emphasized that solidarity is the true antidote to exclusion. Then, at the Catholic University of Buenos Aires , he spoke before students, business leaders, and unions, emphasizing that unemployment is a tragedy that harms human dignity and threatens the social fabric.
From Córdoba to the Shrine of Luján: Faith and Solidarity
On November 10, the pontiff traveled to Córdoba, where he celebrated Mass with the Argentine bishops and clergy, inviting them to build a "city without exclusions." The evening continued with a youth vigil in Buenos Aires, where he emphasized the importance of hope for a polarized country. The following day, at 8:00 a.m., he visited the Devoto federal prison, recalling that justice must always take into account the humanity of those incarcerated. Finally, he concluded his Argentine visit at the shrine of Luján , where the patroness of the Virgin Mary received a blessing for a more inclusive future.
The Uruguayan Way: From Montevideo to the Campesinos
Speeches on war, poverty and human dignity
The pontiff continued on to Montevideo, where Cardinal Daniel Sturla welcomed him at the Catholic University of Uruguay. Before faculty and students, Leo XIV emphasized that war is the most terrible human act and that violence in the suburbs, such as the Casavalle neighborhood, is a symptom of a fragmented society. He cited the need to defend the "good fragrance of the human person" and to build together a new city where love and peace reign.
Real payments: apartments in Casavalle and the mate symbol
The following afternoon, the Pope descended on Paysandú, the "land of the campesinos," to meet with farmers and rural families. During the visit, he attended a Mass celebrated in París Londres Park, where he remembered the Gaucho bishop Jacinto Vera . Afterward, he returned to Montevideo to deliver more than thirty apartments in the Casavalle neighborhood, funded by the Papal Foundation . There, he invited residents to share mate , a symbol of welcome and solidarity, emphasizing that the act of drinking together is a message of brotherhood and integration.
Concluding his tour, Leo XIV reiterated that the greatest challenge is to build a city without exclusion , where every individual can contribute to the common good. The memory of Pope Francis was invoked as a source of inspiration, but the pontiff emphasized his own specific vision: uniting hope, justice, and respect for life in all its phases. The final message was clear: society must choose to be "Good Samaritans" or remain passive in the face of the suffering of others.