Pope Leo arrives in Argentina and tells Milei that people, not the economy, should come first

Pope Leo XIV used his first public speech in Argentina to urge political leaders to put people before economic targets, offering a diplomatic but pointed challenge to President Javier Milei’s austerity programme and libertarian agenda. His remarks highlighted disagreements over public spending and social justice, while calling for less combative politics in a deeply polarised country.

Leo said Argentina should encourage private initiative and economic opportunity, but ensure growth also helps unemployed people, retirees and households struggling to make ends meet. Milei has defended spending cuts as necessary reforms to curb inflation and reduce waste; they have delivered a budget surplus and slashed poverty, though the article’s final sentence is cut off. The visit is the first papal trip to Argentina in nearly 40 years and comes amid the legacy of Pope Francis, who never returned home during his 12-year pontificate.