Pope Leo XIV addresses 2.5 million at Argentina Mass after visiting disabled

Pope Leo XIV addressed an estimated 2.5 million people at a Mass in Buenos Aires on Monday, his largest liturgical gathering to date. The event concluded a day that began with a visit to a care home for people with disabilities, where the pontiff emphasized that such lives are a blessing rather than a societal burden.

The visit to the Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, south of Buenos Aires, marked the start of Leo’s trip to Argentina. The institution, founded in 1935 by an Italian priest, occupies 123 acres and houses more than 400 residents with disabilities. Leo’s presence there drew tears from some staff and residents as he embraced individuals in wheelchairs.

This pilgrimage comes amid a political dispute over social spending. President Javier Milei’s administration has implemented austerity measures that have reduced funding for healthcare and social services. Milei’s government has frozen payments to specialized therapy programs and dismantled parts of the safety net for Argentina’s estimated 5 million people with disabilities.

Argentina’s Congress overrode a presidential veto last year to pass a law increasing disability care funding. However, the current administration has resisted implementing the change, citing the need to maintain fiscal balance. Care homes like the Cottolengo remain owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in back payments.

The timing of the papal visit coincided with a partial resolution of one financial strain. Fernando Montero, who oversees disability services at the home, stated that the government paid approximately 828 million pesos, roughly $535,000, just over a week before the visit. This payment covered medications, diapers, and food for about four months.

The Mass took place at the Monumento a los Españoles, the same site where St. John Paul II celebrated a Mass nearly 40 years ago. The day was declared a national holiday to allow attendance and reduce traffic. Thousands arrived at midnight to secure positions for the service, which began under clear skies.

President Milei and his sister Karina Milei, the secretary-general of the presidency, occupied VIP seats during the ceremony. In his homily, Leo described Argentine families as the bedrock of society despite challenges with unemployment, violence, and addiction. He urged listeners not to view the Christian family as outdated.

Leo’s message resonated with attendees across age groups. Isabel Martín, 73, said she prayed for the pope to influence Milei regarding pension cuts. The minimum pension is currently about $300, which covers roughly one-quarter of the costs for medicine, housing, and food for older adults.

Margarita Lanús, who turned 16 on Monday, shared a cake on the sidewalk while waiting for the Mass. She noted that she appreciated the pope’s direct communication style. His visit fulfills a legacy begun by the late Argentine Pope Francis, who emphasized Catholic social teaching regarding the vulnerable.

Leo is scheduled to meet with business leaders, union representatives, and popular movement leaders later Monday at the Catholic University of Argentina. The group includes domestic manufacturers affected by cheap imports since Milei removed trade barriers, as well as members of the largest labor confederation who visited the Vatican in September. Cabinet chief Diego Santilli dismissed the idea that the pope criticized the government, stating, "No, it’s everything we’ve been working on."