Pope Leo XIV travels to Argentina on Sunday, 8 November 2026, after celebrating his final mass in Uruguay, according to TN. Before leaving, the pontiff is scheduled to lead a service at the National Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three in Florida, where he greeted worshippers from the popemobile and told them the day was one of celebration.
He is expected in Buenos Aires in the afternoon for a welcome ceremony. His schedule includes a stop at the monument to General José de San Martín in Plaza San Martín, a meeting with President Javier Milei at the Casa Rosada, and an encounter with authorities, civil society representatives and the diplomatic corps at the Palacio Libertad. According to TN, the Argentina leg of the trip will run for four days and take in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján.
Why it matters
TN reports that a pope has not set foot on Argentine soil in 39 years, a point echoed by the opposition party PRO in a message welcoming the visit. The arrival carries weight beyond the church calendar: it brings a global religious figure into direct contact with a government led by Milei, and it draws attention to the social questions Leo XIV has raised during his South American tour.
A farewell mass in Florida
The morning programme in Uruguay centred on the Catedral Basílica de Florida, home to the shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three Orientals. TN spoke to faithful gathered in the square ahead of the service, who said they were delighted by the visit and highlighted the pope's call to follow Jesus and to commit to marriage and mission.
Earlier, Leo XIV stopped at the Chapel of Santa Teresita in Juanicó. Speaking to parishioners there, he said he was glad of the brief visit and noted that his family holds a strong devotion to the saint. He also urged those present not to be afraid to declare their Christian and Catholic faith openly.
A message on poverty, and political reactions at home
During his time in Uruguay, the pope said no child should go to bed hungry, a statement reported by Página|12. La Nación reported that he also spoke forcefully about the contrasts within a country it described as rich in resources. Those remarks form part of the wider social message he has carried through the tour.
In Argentina, preparations drew public comment from across the political spectrum. Karina Milei, secretary general of the presidency, posted a video on X saying the national government had worked with the Church and with teams from the City of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires province and Córdoba to make the visit possible. She expressed the hope that it would be a moment of unity for Argentines.
PRO, the party led by Mauricio Macri, also welcomed the pope on X. The party said the visit should prompt reflection beyond day-to-day politics and called for sterile divisions to be set aside, describing the pope's message of peace, unity and dialogue as an invitation to pursue the common good. It asked that his time in the country serve as an opportunity for social development.
Security and transport in the capital
Authorities in Buenos Aires have announced changes to public transport around the arrival. According to TN, all subway lines will run a limited service from midday because of the security operation. Bus routes will also be affected, with temporary stops, diversions and relocated terminals on several lines.
The visit is expected to draw large crowds along the routes the pope will take, and the transport adjustments are intended to manage movement through the affected areas.
What to watch
The meeting between Leo XIV and Milei at the Casa Rosada will be the first direct encounter of the trip between the pope and the Argentine head of state. What is said there, and how the pope frames his message to Argentine society at the Palacio Libertad, will set the tone for the remaining days in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján.
