Pope Leon Hundreds of people gathered outside, most of them wearing the flags of the Vatican and Argentina, on which the Pope's image was printed. The Pope's visit falls within a 12-day tour of the continent where he served for nearly two decades.
Published on: 09/11/2026 - 11:24 Last updated: 09/11/2026 - 11:55
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Pope Leon He called on officials to moderate their statements and work to achieve consensus.
This stop comes as part of a 12-day continental tour that followed his visit to Uruguay, and is of exceptional importance because it comes a few weeks after he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. In a move that put him on a path opposite to that of his late predecessor, Francis, who did not visit his hometown throughout his pontificate, amid local church criticism and strict austerity policies adopted by Milli’s government.
Read also: The Pope’s condition is progressing “normally” after undergoing surgery for lung cancer
In the presence of political and civil figures, including Milley, the Pontiff stressed the need for those holding public positions to exercise moderation, “choose their words carefully, and work patiently to reach consensus,” noting that the Argentine president is known for his caustic and insulting statements toward his opponents.
After his arrival, the Pope met with the Argentine President for about an hour in the presidential palace, while hundreds of people gathered outside, most of them wearing the flags of the Vatican and Argentina, on which the Pope’s image was printed.
Brian Ignacio Rodriguez, 26, traveled 3,000 kilometers with his father from Ushuaia in Patagonia, just to be “close to the Pope.” The unemployed young man confirms that this five-day car trip “was worth it,” and he hopes that Lawon will bring “a lot of peace to Argentina.”
In his speech, the Pope said that he was happy with the “special significance” of his visit, as he finds himself “on a path opposite” to his predecessor Francis, the Argentine pope who never visited his country during his 12-year pontificate until his death in 2025.
This first papal visit in nearly 40 years to Argentina was followed by Leon XIV's secular-oriented stop in Uruguay, where he stayed for three days, during which he denounced drug-related violence and called for an end to child poverty.
The Argentine president's relationship with his compatriot, the late Pope Francis, witnessed severe tension, as Milley described Leon's predecessor as an "idiot" because he called for social justice.
But Milley, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, softened his tone after assuming office and visited Pope Francis in the Vatican.
His relationship with Pope Leon remains friendly until now, but the local church has directed sharp criticism at him because he sees basic social services as merely a burden on the state treasury.
Milley was also criticized for restricting a number of democratic freedoms, including the right to demonstrate.
France 24/AFP
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