Pope Leo XIV Challenges Milei’s Austerity in Argentina

Pope Leo XIV delivered a pointed critique of Argentine President Javier Milei's sweeping economic austerity policies on Sunday, taking the stage in Buenos Aires to argue that public policy must protect the poor and vulnerable.

The Chicago-born pontiff arrived in Argentina for the second leg of his 12-day Latin American tour, marking the first papal visit to the nation in nearly four decades. His predecessor, the late Argentine-born Pope Francis, never returned to his home country during his 12-year papacy. The visit comes just three weeks after the 71-year-old Pope Leo underwent successful surgery for lung cancer, with Vatican officials confirming he requires no extraordinary medical precautions on the trip.

Addressing an audience of diplomats, civic leaders, and government officials at the Palacio Libertad, Pope Leo issued a direct message regarding the purpose of economic governance:

"The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy."

He highlighted the struggles of families facing rising living costs, emphasizing the people who "despite hard work, nonetheless struggle to meet their household's needs". In a direct reference to recent government welfare and entitlement spending reductions, the pope insisted that "particular concern be shown for those affected by illness, dependency and disability".

Beyond economic policy, Pope Leo spoke about civil discourse, cautioning against political polarization and aggressive rhetoric. He urged leaders to remember that "Democracy, then, is also a part of Argentina's heritage that needs to be safeguarded."

"Democracy is also strengthened by the daily conduct of public life: through willingness to listen, through careful use of words, through the patient search for agreement, and through the ability to see those who think differently as fellow citizens with whom we share a common future."

The pontiff called on elected officials to maintain humility and operate within established legal limits:

"Authority is most authentic when it is exercised as service, when it looks beyond the immediate, and when it uses its power to promote the welfare of all. Those who exercise authority have a duty to act with prudence, to acknowledge the limits of the power entrusted to them."

He also warned that "corruption undermines the confidence of citizens in their institutions."

President Milei, a libertarian who has used significant public spending cuts to tame hyperinflation, welcomed the pope at the Casa Rosada after landing in the capital. During his campaign, Milei had frequently insulted Pope Francis over the late pontiff's emphasis on social justice, once labeling him "the representative of the evil one on earth". However, Milei adopted a more respectful tone during the papal visit, reiterating that Francis was "undoubtedly the most important Argentine in history".

Defending his administration's economic platform, Milei stated that his government was working to avoid "punishing the Argentines of tomorrow in order to benefit the Argentines of today".

Milei emphasized that fundamental protections around life, liberty, and property form the foundation of Argentina's constitution and democratic order.

Pope Leo's itinerary in Argentina includes several public masses, a visit to a federal prison in Buenos Aires, and a stop at a care facility for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities in Claypole. Organizers expect up to seven million attendees across the scheduled events.