# Pope Leo criticises Milei’s austerity in Argentina, says growth must benefit all

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/pope-leo-criticises-mileis-austerity-in-argentina-says-growth-must-benefit-all/
- Published: 2026-11-08T22:23:19+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T23:34:49+00:00
- Original publisher: France 24 (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261108-pope-leo-argentina-visit-milei
- Topics: Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Pope Leo challenged Milei’s austerity policies.
- He called for concern for the poor and disabled.
- Argentina’s poverty rate reached 32.3 per cent in September.

## Summary

Pope Leo XIV criticised President Javier Milei’s austerity policies during his first visit to Argentina, saying economic growth should serve people and benefit everyone. He called for support for people in poverty, pensioners and those affected by illness or disability, and urged Milei to listen carefully and use measured language to strengthen democracy.

Leo arrived in Buenos Aires from Uruguay on a 12-day Latin American tour, the first papal visit to Argentina in nearly four decades. Milei’s spending cuts have targeted welfare and public services as he seeks to revive the economy and curb inflation; the poverty rate rose to 32.3 per cent in September. A University of Buenos Aires poll found 57.7 per cent of people identified as Catholic, down from about 90 per cent in the 1960s, while the Church expects seven million people at events during the visit.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.