On November 8, in Buenos Aires, Pope Leo XIV delivered a stinging critique of Argentine President Javier Milei’s austerity measures, insisting that growth must benefit all, and urged Latin American unity on the same day Milei refused to recognize Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory in Brazil.

It was the first papal visit to Argentina since 1987, during a 12-day trip through South America. In Le Monde’s assessment, the speech was a lesson to Milei: “the economy must serve the person and not the person the economy”. Milei refused to acknowledge Lula’s victory in Brazil’s elections the previous month and helped the defeated rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, leave the country.