World · Latin America · 8 hrs ago
Pope Leo XIV leaves Uruguay for politically delicate Argentina visit
Pope Leo XIV is wrapping up his visit to Uruguay before continuing a three-country South American tour.
His final event is in Florida, north of Montevideo, where he is marking the feast of the Virgin of the Thirty-three.
The feast is tied to Uruguay’s independence, and the church is seeking to highlight its place in the country’s identity, despite Uruguay’s long secular tradition.
Leo is the first pope to visit Uruguay in nearly four decades.
His next stop is Argentina, where he is due to meet President Javier Milei at the Buenos Aires airport and take part in a welcome ceremony.
The meeting may be politically delicate because church leaders have criticized Milei’s austerity measures and cuts to social spending, which the government says are needed to reform the economy.
Leo has also called for safeguards on artificial intelligence, while Milei has sought to attract AI investment with limited regulation; the tour will then continue to Peru.
Pope Leo XIV is wrapping up his visit to Uruguay and heading to Argentina for the second leg of his South American tour.
His visit to Argentina is expected to be politically delicate because the Catholic Church has sharply criticized President Javier Milei’s austerity program.
Leo’s final event in Uruguay is commemorating the feast of the Virgin of the Thirty-three in Florida.
Milei is due to meet Leo at the Buenos Aires airport, where they will take part in a welcome ceremony and exchange speeches.
Leo has warned about risks from the race to develop artificial intelligence, while Milei has sought to attract AI investment with promises of limited regulation.
- Who
- Pope Leo XIV is traveling to Argentina. President Javier Milei is due to meet him there.
- What
- Leo is wrapping up his visit to Uruguay and beginning the Argentina leg of his South American tour.
- When
- Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.
- Where
- Leo is traveling from Uruguay to Argentina, with a planned meeting at the Buenos Aires airport.
- Why
- Leo’s tour is intended to draw attention to the Catholic Church’s role in Uruguay and continues with a visit to Argentina. The Argentina leg comes amid tensions over Milei’s austerity measures.
Catholic Church leaders
Javier Milei’s government
Austerity measures
Catholic Church leaders
Church leaders have criticized the government for putting economic orthodoxy ahead of the needs of the poor.
Javier Milei’s government
The government presents spending cuts as necessary reforms to remake the economy and eliminate fraud and waste.
Artificial intelligence
Catholic Church leaders
Leo has warned of threats to humanity and the environment from the AI race and called for strict, internationally policed safeguards.
Javier Milei’s government
Milei has sought AI investment and data centers with promises of limited regulation.
Leo underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung.
Leo is wrapping up his Uruguay visit with an event in Florida before heading to Argentina.
Milei is due to meet Leo at the airport, followed by a welcome ceremony and an exchange of speeches.
- Pope
- Leo XIV, 71
- Uruguay event
- Feast of the Virgin of the Thirty-three in Florida
- Argentina president
- Javier Milei
- Argentina poverty
- 32.3% of the population in the first half of 2026, about 15 million people
- Health care budget
- Argentina’s health care budget was cut by 48% in real terms since Milei took office in December 2023
What people are saying
This visit will also serve to reinforce the image of Leo as a leader, not merely in a spiritual sense, but in a much broader capacity as a political leader and a widely recognized figure who, far from shying away from conflict or tension, offers a powerful perspective and commands a highly respected voice