Pope Leo arrives in Argentina on Sunday to deliver a speech focused on economic and social issues to President Javier Milei, a libertarian known as a close ally of Donald Trump, during the second leg of his 12-day trip to South America.
Tensions Between the Vatican and the Milei Government
This speech may highlight the existing tensions between the Vatican and Milei. His austerity program has been criticized by the Church for harming the poor, and his strong support for the war with Iran has been sharply criticized by Pope Leo, among other significant topics.
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Pope Leo, currently undertaking one of the most contentious foreign trips by a Catholic leader in recent decades, arrives in Argentina from Uruguay, where he has urged South American countries to jointly address regional issues and promote the value of patient diplomacy in the face of conflicts.
Itinerary and Expectations
This 71-year-old pope, making one of his most active foreign trips less than a month after lung cancer surgery, has not visited Argentina since 1987 and will be present in four different cities across the country until Wednesday.
Milei came to power in 2023 and promised the people that he would improve the country’s financial situation with a chainsaw symbolizing deep cuts in government spending. While his economic programs have led to a decrease in annual inflation from over 200% to 33%, polls indicate that his popularity has declined ahead of next year's elections.
Pope Leo will also visit a care center for people with disabilities and a prison, reflecting his focus on marginalized groups. Throughout his 18 months as pope, he has seriously warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence, human behavior towards migrants, and climate change.
Experts say any intervention by Pope Leo, especially regarding poverty or market restrictions, could be perceived as an implicit criticism of Milei's policies and intensify existing opposition to the government's approach.
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