Pope Leo criticises Javier Milei's austerity measures on Argentina visit

Pope Leo XIV has delivered a direct critique of Argentine President Javier Milei's radical austerity drive, telling the leader in Buenos Aires that "the economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy."

Arriving in the capital on Sunday on the second leg of a 12-day Latin America tour, the pontiff used his opening address at the presidential palace to defend the poor, pensioners, and people living with disabilities. In a clear reference to the government's controversial cuts to social assistance, Pope Leo urged the administration to show particular concern for those struggling to meet daily household needs despite working hard.

He also advised Mr Milei, whose aggressive rhetoric has drawn widespread scrutiny, that protecting democratic health requires a genuine willingness to listen and the careful use of words.

Mr Milei won presidency on a mandate to curb runaway inflation by dismantling state subsidies, cutting public hospital and university spending, and slashing welfare programmes. While his policies have succeeded in lowering inflation, they have caused severe economic pain across the country.

The trip is the first by any pope to Argentina in nearly four decades. It holds particular weight in the homeland of the late Pope Francis, who never visited the country during his pontificate. Pope Leo began his continental journey in Uruguay, where he spoke against drug violence and child poverty, travelling just three weeks after undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

Tensions between the presidency and the Catholic Church have simmered since Mr Milei's campaign, during which he repeatedly insulted Pope Francis over his emphasis on social justice. While official interactions between Mr Milei and Pope Leo have remained polite, local bishops have voiced sharp opposition to treating basic social provisions solely as budget constraints.

Thousands gathered across Buenos Aires to greet the pontiff, with supporters expressing hope that his presence might help bridge deep political divisions, even as the government maintains its strict economic trajectory.