Pope tells Argentina to judge itself by disability inclusion

Pope Leo XIV told Argentina on Monday that a nation's progress depends on how it welcomes people with disabilities. He made the remark during a visit to the Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, a poor neighborhood in southern Buenos Aires. The facility provides housing and care for 410 adults with disabilities, most of whom do not have regular family visits.

The 71-year-old pontiff arrived in Argentina on Sunday from Uruguay. This stop serves as the first leg of a South American tour that concludes in Peru. In his first address in Buenos Aires, he urged leaders to ensure economic growth reaches the most vulnerable citizens. He also called for respect toward those with differing viewpoints, a message directed at President Javier Milei. Milei has faced criticism for his aggressive austerity policies and sharp rhetoric against critics.

Government cuts to disability care have become a major flashpoint for protesters since Milei took office in December 2023. The Catholic Church, the ruling party, and the opposition engaged in negotiations to address the issue. They agreed on a project to guarantee funding for these services. The lower house of the legislature approved the bill in October. It now waits for a vote in the Senate.

Marta Donato, a 57-year-old resident with rheumatoid arthritis, shared her personal experience with the pope. She has lived in the home for 44 years. "I was holding a grudge because I felt like I had been discarded," Donato said. "I didn't understand why this was happening to me until I realized the Cottolengo was what I needed to fill the void I felt." Leo XIV later expressed his hope for the country. He stated he wanted Argentina to perform great works of charity where the love of Christ triumphs over individualism and exclusion.

Faithful had gathered along the route since early Monday morning. Families and groups of friends lined the path leading to the shelter. At the entrance, people embraced and waved Argentine and Vatican flags. In a nearby park, a band played religious songs interspersed with prayers. Ana Trucco, a 22-year-old student, said she approached the faith by reading the encyclicals of Pope Francis. "We must always think of the humblest in our country, who today are being so abandoned," she told AFP. "It seems very important that Pope Leo comes with Francis' legacy to speak to that people."

Later in the day, the pope will hold a mass in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Thousands of people began lining up in the pre-dawn hours to enter the venue. Many attendees are families with children. Several groups of believers arrived in buses organized by their local parishes. At some corners, young people with guitars led waiting crowds in singing and clapping. Soledad Troncoso, a 67-year-old retiree from Wilde in the southern periphery, arrived with her sister and several neighbors. "What we need most is unity, we are so divided," she said near tears. "May his word last, may he bring a blessing to this homeland where so much is suffered."