BUENOS AIRES (Azat TV) – Pope Leo XIV delivered a pointed critique of President Javier Milei’s libertarian economic policies during his historic apostolic visit to Argentina on Monday, November 9, 2026. The pontiff used high-profile appearances before labor leaders, industrialists, and vulnerable citizens to challenge the social cost of the administration’s sweeping spending cuts, drawing an estimated 2.5 million people to his first Mass in the country, according to Vatican figures reported by the Boston Globe.
The visit marks the first papal trip to Argentina in nearly four decades. Pope Francis never returned during his 12-year papacy due to the nation’s sharp political polarization. Pope Leo stepped directly into that debate, addressing the Catholic University of Argentina where he invoked Francis’ famous social justice tenets regarding land, housing, and work, warning that depriving citizens of employment severely damages their human dignity.
Challenging Libertarian Reforms and Labor Impacts
The papal addresses resonated strongly with union representatives and informal workers who have organized continuous resistance against Milei’s free-market restructuring. Informal labor participation has climbed from 41 percent to 45 percent since Milei took office, driven by mass layoffs and economic contraction. Addressing an audience that included union leaders who have led general strikes and manufacturers affected by cheap imports, Pope Leo argued that private property is always subject to a social mortgage and warned against unregulated automation and artificial intelligence.
Hugo Godoy, secretary-general of the Autonomous Argentine Workers’ Central, welcomed the pontiff’s words as an essential encouragement during a period of severe economic deterioration. Conversely, President Milei praised the pope’s separate address defending pensioners and public universities as outstanding while declining to engage with its direct policy implications, stating he wished to avoid political utilization of the speech.
Focus on Disability Care and Clergy Abuse Survivors
Prior to his university address, Pope Leo visited the Cottolengo Don Orione disability home south of Buenos Aires, which houses more than 400 individuals and has faced severe financial strain under government spending cuts. Although the administration withheld much of its allocated funding, authorities recently disbursed approximately $535,000 for essential supplies following intense public and international attention. The Argentine Senate is scheduled to review upcoming legislation designed to secure permanent funding for disability benefits in the next fiscal budget.
In addition to his economic commentary, Pope Leo met privately for about an hour with five survivors of clergy abuse and church institution misconduct. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed that the pope listened to their testimonies and emphasized the Catholic Church’s ongoing responsibility to reinforce protection, welcome, and healing paths for victims.