Pope Leo tells Milei the economy must serve people — not the other way around

Pope Leo XIV stepped off the plane in Buenos Aires and, within hours, told Argentine President Javier Milei — politely, firmly, and to rapturous applause — that his entire governing philosophy had the relationship between people and economies backwards.

The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy.— Pope Leo XIV

The line drew the loudest response of Leo's Sunday speech, delivered on the second leg of an ambitious 12-day Latin American tour — the first papal visit to Argentina in nearly four decades. Leo did not criticise Milei by name, but the targets of his remarks were unmistakable to anyone who has followed three years of the president's austerity programme, according to reporting from PBS and the Guardian.

He spoke of those who "despite hard work, nonetheless struggle to meet their household's needs." He called for "particular concern" for people affected by illness, dependency and disability — a phrase widely read as a reference to the government's cuts to disability assistance. He defended pensioners. And, in a remark directed at a president known for foul-mouthed attacks on journalists and opponents, Leo said strengthening democracy required a "willingness to listen" and the "careful use of words."

Corruption undermines the confidence of citizens in their institutions.— Pope Leo XIV

His relationship with Leo has so far been described as cordial — a marked contrast to his history with Leo's predecessor.

Argentina is the home country of the late Pope Francis, whom Milei called an "imbecile" on the campaign trail for championing social justice. Once in office Milei softened his tone toward Francis, but the antagonism never fully dissolved. Leo said on Sunday that he was "retracing" Francis's steps — a pointed choice of words in a country still processing the fact that Francis never returned home during his 12-year pontificate. That absence left a wound in Argentine Catholic life that Leo's visit is partly intended to address.

The stakes are considerable. Argentina is bitterly divided between Milei's supporters, who credit him with dramatically reducing runaway inflation, and his opponents, who point to a poverty rate that climbed to 32.3% by September. The local Catholic Church has heavily criticised the government for treating key social services purely as a budgetary problem. In a recent University of Buenos Aires poll, 57.7% of Argentines identified as Catholic — down from roughly 90% in the 1960s — making the visit also a test of the Church's own standing.

Crowds gathered outside the presidential palace chanting "Papa León." Brian Inacio Rodriguez, a 26-year-old job seeker, spent five days travelling overland from Ushuaia at the southern tip of South America to see the pontiff. Liliana Deblauwe, a 68-year-old retired teacher who waited near a monument to liberation hero José de San Martín, put the mood simply.

Just like the World Cup unites us, hopefully the pope will too.— Liliana Deblauwe, retired teacher

Leo, 71, is making this tour just three weeks after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. He arrived in Buenos Aires from Uruguay, where he began the trip by condemning drug violence and urging an end to child poverty. Argentina is the second of three nations on the itinerary. He is scheduled to visit a home for disabled people and a prison, and to celebrate three open-air masses. The Church expects 7 million people to attend the various events across his Argentine stay.

Why it matters — A pope's public words carry weight with 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, and Leo's carefully worded speech hands Milei's domestic critics a moral framework — delivered by a figure the president cannot easily dismiss — at a moment when Argentina's social fabric is under acute strain.

Reported by pbs.org, religionnews.com, politico.com, theguardian.com