Argentine Archbishop Warns Pope Leo XIV Will Find a Wounded, Divided Nation
Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva of Buenos Aires says the Pope's November visit will bring him face to face with a country marked by polarization, intolerance, and years of poverty, as more than a million young pilgrims prepare to walk to Luján.
Pope Leo XIV will arrive in Argentina to find a country wounded by division, intolerance, and a social crisis that has persisted for years, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires has warned. Jorge García Cuerva said the Pontiff's planned visit in November will bring him face to face with a nation deeply marked by polarization and hardship.
Speaking after a Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral, the archbishop said the Pope «is going to find a wounded Argentina, a divided Argentina, with that famous rift.» He added that the country is one «where disqualification and intolerance are the order of the day,» and lamented that a large number of people have been living in poverty for many years.
The archbishop's remarks came just before the 52nd Youth Pilgrimage to Luján, one of the largest religious gatherings in South America, which takes place this weekend. More than a million pilgrims are expected to take part in the walk to the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, the country's patron saint. Thousands of volunteers will support the event, alongside coordination from different levels of government.
García Cuerva linked the pilgrimage directly to the spiritual preparation for the Pope's visit. He presented the long walk to Luján as a way for the faithful to ready themselves inwardly for the arrival of the Pontiff, whose trip is scheduled for November. The pilgrimage has long been a central moment in Argentine Catholic life, drawing young people from across the country each year to the shrine in Buenos Aires province.
The archbishop's description of a «wounded» and «divided» Argentina reflects a broader concern about the tone of public life. He said polarization affects daily existence, with insults and intolerance becoming routine. His words also drew attention to the enduring poverty that has shaped the lives of many Argentines over the past several years, a reality he said the Pope will encounter personally.
For the Catholic Church in Argentina, the Pope's visit is both a pastoral opportunity and a test. The archbishop's warning suggests that the Church sees the trip not simply as a ceremonial event but as a moment to address the country's social fractures. The pilgrimage to Luján, with its emphasis on youth participation and communal faith, is being framed as a spiritual rehearsal for that encounter.
The scale of the pilgrimage underscores the Church's continued ability to mobilize large numbers of people. More than a million participants are expected, making it one of the most significant public religious events in the region. Organizers have relied on thousands of volunteers, and government agencies at various levels have cooperated in managing the crowds and logistics.
Pope Leo XIV's visit, set for November, will be closely watched both in Argentina and abroad. The archbishop's remarks set the tone for what the Church expects the Pontiff to see: a nation struggling with division and poverty, but also one where faith remains a powerful force. The pilgrimage to Luján, taking place this weekend, offers an early indication of that faith in action.
4
