World
Pope Leo XIV’s First Visit to Argentina Highlights Tensions with President Milei Over Disability Funding and Social Policy
On Monday, 9 November, Pope Leo XIV will visit the Cottolengo Don Orione, a Catholic-run home for disabled people in Claypole, about 26 km from Buenos Aires. The facility, which houses roughly 400 residents, is facing severe shortages of medication, special food and diapers after the government cut disability funding last year. Facility coordinator Fernando Montero said the supply has been halted since November and the matter is now in court. He added that the pope’s teachings on human dignity clash with President Javier Milei’s “hyper‑capitalist” ideology, which rewards only the most competitive.
The pope’s three‑day trip to Argentina is the first papal visit since John Paul II in 1987. It follows a three‑country tour that began in Uruguay and will finish in Peru. Milei, who took office in December, has implemented extensive spending cuts that the government says are necessary to curb inflation. However, the cuts have hit retirees on the minimum pension hard, with the think‑tank Mate estimating a 30 % loss of purchasing power for 63 % of retirees. A recent retirees’ march outside Congress saw a sign that read, “Save us Pope Leo XIV – Milei is killing us.”
Disability funding has been a flashpoint between church and state. The Argentine conference of bishops wrote to Health Minister Mario Lugones on 1 April, condemning the “serious situation” facing institutions that care for people with disabilities. The ministry has met with the bishops twice since, in April and on 5 October, but the dispute remains unresolved. The government has downplayed potential tensions, with Social Policy Minister Sandra Pettovello stating that the pope would not comment on local politics.
The pope’s itinerary includes a visit to Buenos Aires, meetings with business and union leaders, and a Mass on Tuesday at the FAdeA state‑owned military aircraft factory in Córdoba, where workers have protested Milei’s cuts. Scholars and activists note that any emphasis on defending domestic production, labour, disability or social justice in the pope’s rhetoric would clash with Milei’s ideology.
The visit also highlights broader policy differences. In May, Pope Leo XIV called for “disarming” artificial intelligence, while Milei has opposed AI regulation and introduced bills to build data centres and grant legal status to “no‑human corporations”. Critics such as sociologist Milagros Miceli and left‑wing deputy Juan Grabois point out the stark contrast between the pope’s human‑centred approach and the president’s deregulatory agenda.
The pope’s presence will be felt across Argentina, where social movements have grown closer to the Catholic Church since Pope Francis’s tenure. While the LGBTQIA+ community will hold its 35th Pride March in Buenos Aires the day before the visit, the overall expectation among Argentines is that the pope will deliver a message focused on social and humanitarian issues.
The visit marks a significant moment for Argentina, as it navigates the intersection of faith, politics and social policy under a president whose economic reforms have sparked widespread debate and protest.
Frequently asked questions
Where will Pope Leo XIV visit on his first day in Argentina?
He will visit the Cottolengo Don Orione home for disabled people in Claypole, about 26 km from Buenos Aires.
Why is the Pope’s visit seen as a clash with President Milei?
The Pope’s teachings on human dignity conflict with Milei’s hyper‑capitalist ideology, especially after the government cut disability funding, causing shortages at the home.
What broader policy differences are highlighted by the visit?
The Pope called for disarming artificial intelligence, while Milei opposes AI regulation and promotes building data centres and granting legal status to no‑human corporations.