BUENOS AIRES, Argentina | November 9, 2026 | Pope Leo XIV visited a struggling residential center for people with disabilities in Argentina on Monday, highlighting the impact of government spending cuts on vulnerable communities as he pressed President Javier Milei’s administration to put human welfare at the center of economic policy.
The pope visited Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, south of Buenos Aires, an institution that shelters more than 400 people with disabilities across a 50-hectare property. Founded in 1935 by an Italian priest, the center has been severely affected by the government’s austerity measures, rising inflation and frozen public payments, according to the Associated Press.
The visit came as Argentina’s Senate prepared to consider a disability funding bill opposed by Milei, amid growing concerns over reductions in public assistance and specialized healthcare programs.
The cuts have affected disability services across the country, threatening support systems relied upon by millions of Argentines with disabilities. Milei’s administration has defended the spending reductions as necessary reforms to eliminate fraud and waste in government programs and restore fiscal stability.
Leo’s visit reinforced the message he delivered during his first public address in Argentina on Sunday, when he declared that “the economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy.”
He also called for particular concern for people affected by illness, dependency and disability, emphasizing that economic growth must benefit those facing the greatest difficulties.
The pope’s message reflects the Catholic Church’s longstanding social teaching on human dignity, solidarity and the responsibility to protect disadvantaged members of society. His predecessor, Pope Francis, an Argentine who led the Church from 2013 until his death in 2025, frequently criticized economic systems that prioritize profit while marginalizing the poor.
Milei, who took office in December 2023, has pursued sweeping spending reductions to address Argentina’s economic crisis, including high inflation and persistent fiscal deficits. While his administration considers fiscal discipline essential to economic recovery, critics have questioned the social consequences of cuts affecting healthcare, education, pensions and disability assistance.
Beyond the visit, Leo was scheduled to meet business leaders, union representatives and leaders of popular movements at the Catholic University of Argentina, extending his appeal for dialogue between government, business and labor groups.
The Argentine visit is part of the pope’s 12-day South American journey covering Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It is the first papal visit to Argentina since Pope John Paul II traveled to the country in 1987. Francis, despite being born in Buenos Aires, never returned to Argentina during his papacy.
Leo’s visit to the disability center has placed the needs of vulnerable Argentines at the center of the country’s debate over economic reform, public spending and the government’s responsibility to protect those who depend on social services.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
