Argentina
The Government detailed the operation and itinerary for Leo XIV's visit to Argentina
After the Vatican confirmed the official schedule, national officials and church authorities reviewed the pontiff's activities between November 8 and 11. The visit will include stops in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján.
The national government presented this Monday at the Casa Rosada the details of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Argentina, after the Vatican released the official travel program. The press conference included Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, National Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva, the president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, Bishop Marcelo Colombo, and the apostolic nuncio in the country, Bishop Michael Wallace Banach.
Quirno thanked the pontiff for deciding to travel to the country and said the preparation for the visit was the result of joint work between the Holy See, the Argentine Church and different levels of government. He also noted that the trip encompasses both the Pope’s institutional role as head of state and his apostolic character, and highlighted that the program includes institutional, pastoral, social, ecumenical and interreligious activities.
Monteoliva said the planned security deployment will be the largest in history. She said it will cover three airports, three cities, four mass events and another 11 closed-door events, with a unified command active for 120 uninterrupted hours. She also estimated a total turnout of nearly 7 million people.
According to C5N, the minister said the unified commands are operating in the City of Buenos Aires, the province of Buenos Aires and Córdoba. She also said that the 23 provinces and the City of Buenos Aires signed the “Leo XIV” commitment at the National Security Council to help coordinate the operation.
The schedule will begin on Sunday, November 8. According to the published itinerary, Leo XIV will arrive in the country at 4:30 p.m. On the arrival point, there is a discrepancy between the reports: C5N said he will be received at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, while Chequeado stated that the official welcome will be at Ezeiza International Airport. That same day he will visit the Monument to General San Martín in Plaza San Martín, then the Casa Rosada, where he will hold a meeting with President Javier Milei, and later he will lead a gathering with authorities, representatives of civil society and the diplomatic corps at Palacio Libertad.
On Monday the 9th he will visit the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole and celebrate a Mass at the Monumento de los Españoles. He will then take part in an activity at the Catholic University of Argentina and a meeting with leaders of Christian communities and other religious traditions at Palacio San Martín. The day will continue with the celebration of vespers at the Metropolitan Cathedral together with the Argentine Episcopate and synodal teams.
On Tuesday the 10th he will travel to Córdoba, where he will celebrate Mass on the esplanade of the Military Aviation School and hold a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, religious men and women, seminarians and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. Regarding the return to Buenos Aires, C5N reported that it will be at 6:10 p.m., while Chequeado said it is scheduled for 4:55 p.m. Later that night he will lead a vigil with young people at the Monumento de los Españoles.
The final day, Wednesday the 11th, will include a visit to the Federal Penitentiary Complex of Buenos Aires and a Mass in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján. After that, the farewell will take place and the trip will continue to Lima, Peru.
Chequeado added, based on statements by Father Máximo Jurcinovic, that the visit will have a strong pastoral imprint in a brief and demanding trip, and recalled that the last time a Pope was in Argentina was that of John Paul II.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
