Key points

  • Pope Leo XIV arrived at Jorge Newbery airport near Buenos Aires, marking the first papal trip to Argentina since 1987, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters reports.
  • The 71-year-old pontiff was greeted by President Javier Milei and presidential secretary Karina Milei, Al Jazeera reported.
  • Pew Research Center data cited by Al Jazeera showed self-identifying Catholics in Argentina dropped from 71 percent to 58 percent over a decade.

Al Jazeera and Reuters reported that Pope Leo XIV landed at Jorge Newbery airport in Buenos Aires on Sunday, beginning a landmark journey that marks the first time a pontiff has visited Argentina in nearly forty years. President Javier Milei and presidential secretary Karina Milei welcomed the head of the Catholic Church at the airport ceremony.

Key Details

Al Jazeera noted that the visit follows a three-day stay in Uruguay, which was the first leg of the pontiff's Latin American tour. The schedule in Argentina includes a welcome ceremony at Plaza San Martin, a meeting with President Milei at the Casa Rosada presidential palace, visits to a prison, and masses in Buenos Aires, Lujan, and Cordoba.

According to Al Jazeera, the Catholic Church in the region has faced a decline in adherence. Pew Research Center figures reported by the outlet indicate that the percentage of Argentinians identifying as Catholic fell from 71 percent in 2013-2014 to 58 percent a decade later.

Tensions have also surfaced between the Milei administration and the church regarding economic policies. Al Jazeera reported that the Catholic Church has criticized the president's austerity measures and social spending cuts, which the government defends as necessary to control inflation. Some members of the clergy have participated in protests against these budget reductions.

Context and Impact

Al Jazeera stated that Latin America remains home to the largest regional population of Catholics, with roughly 425 million people. The current pontiff, Pope Leo, is 71 years old and is the first US-born pope. His predecessor, Pope Francis, was born in Buenos Aires in 1936 and served as the first pope from the Americas, but he never visited his home country as pontiff prior to his death in 2025.

Summary and What Next

Al Jazeera reported that Pope Leo will remain in Argentina until Wednesday to meet with diplomats, civil society representatives, and officials before traveling onward to Peru, where he previously served as a bishop.