ABC · October 2, 2026

The Archbishop of Buenos Aires foresees a divided and impoverished country ahead of the papal visit

A little over a month before Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Argentina, Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva told reporters, after a Mass at the cathedral, the situation the pontiff will encounter: a society fractured by political conflicts, where intolerance and grievances abound, and where a large portion of the population has been living in deprivation for years. According to him, the Pope is coming to support the Church’s work with the marginalized and to deliver a message of hope.

The prelate had already clarified the remarks made days earlier by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, who had denied any fundamental disagreements between the government and the Church and credited Milei with cutting poverty in half. García Cuerva responded that there are points of common ground, but also “there are many differences, and it’s not wrong to acknowledge them.” Official data cited by ABC show a poverty rate of 32.3% and a decline in economic activity.

Via ABC