Pope Leo XIV delivered a direct criticism of Argentine president Javier Milei's austerity measures during a visit to Buenos Aires on Sunday, the second stop of a 12-day Latin America tour.
"The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy," Leo said in a speech that drew applause from crowds. He highlighted the struggles of working people unable to meet household needs and defended pensioners and those with disabilities, referencing the government's cuts to disability assistance.
Leo, 71, also told Milei that strengthening democracy required "a willingness to listen" and careful use of language. The remarks were an implicit rebuke of Milei's combative public style.
This marks the first papal visit to Argentina in nearly four decades. Leo arrived from Uruguay, where he had condemned drug violence and urged an end to child poverty. The pontiff is retracing steps of his predecessor, Francis, an Argentine who Milei famously insulted during his campaign for championing social justice.
Since taking office, Milei has pursued steep cuts to public hospitals, universities and pensions to fight inflation. The poverty rate reached 32.3% in September. Though Milei softened his tone toward the church after taking office, the local Catholic establishment has criticized his approach to social services.
Leo will visit a disabled people's home and a prison and celebrate three open-air masses during his Argentina stop. The church expects 7 million attendees across the events.
In a University of Buenos Aires poll, 57.7% of respondents identified as Catholic, down from roughly 90% in the 1960s.