In Pope Francis' Homeland of Argentina, His Successor Carries Forward Legacy of Prioritizing the Poor
Argentines still display Francis’s image in schools, parishes and unions as Pope Leo visits and local leaders keep promoting the late pope’s social message.
- Pope Leo XIV arrived in Argentina on Sunday, November 8, 2026, for a four-day visit, drawing millions to masses and prayer vigils while retracing the pastoral footsteps of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.
- Francis, Argentina's first Latin American pope, never returned home during his 12-year pontificate, leaving behind a legacy that remains a source of both pride and political controversy.
- Pope Leo drew massive crowds, including an estimated 2.5 million people at his Nov. 9 Mass, where he emphasized spiritual care, a priority championed by Francis through his support for the "curas villeros."
- Addressing Argentine President Javier Milei on November 8, Pope Leo called for the protection of democratic institutions and social justice, messages observers interpreted as critiquing the administration's austerity measures.
- Informal workers, including waste pickers in Buenos Aires, continue facing economic uncertainty after government funding for neighborhood improvements disappeared, a reality Leo's visit aims to address through advocacy for social inclusion.
11 Articles
11 Articles
In Pope Francis' Homeland of Argentina, His Successor Carries Forward Legacy of Prioritizing the Poor
Argentina gave the Catholic Church its first Latin American pope but never welcomed him home during his 12-year pontificate. Now Pope Leo XIV has come to a country where Pope Francis' memory remains a source of both pride and political controversy, retracing his predecessor's footsteps while advancing his vision of a Church close to the poor
Catholic Review
The Catholic SunIn Pope Francis' homeland, his successor carries forward a legacy of prioritizing the poor
With seven mouths to feed, Mirta Franco Godoy knew she had to find work fast. In 2001, Argentina's economy came crashing down amid mounting public debt, economic instability and a run on the country's banks. Her family had previously managed to get by with odd jobs, including tailoring and seamstress work. But as the economic crisis deepened, those earnings were no longer enough.
National Catholic Reporter
globalsistersreport.orgIn Francis' hometown, Pope Leo builds on late pope's social justice message
Pope Leo's advocacy for the marginalized in Buenos Aires echoes themes he has emphasized since his election, but in the city so closely associated with the late Pope Francis his words have a particular resonance.
In Argentina, Francis’ legacy hovers over Leo
Get RNS’ thoughtful, essential religion reporting every morning. Sign up for free! BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (RNS) — When María Galarza got dressed to attend Mass with Pope Leo XIV on the grounds of Buenos Aires’ Monumento de los Españoles on Monday (Nov. 9), she chose a T-shirt she had been saving just for this day. It read, “Good things take time.” The last papal visit to Argentina was in 1987, when Galarza was able to see Pope John Paul II from…
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