Thousands gather in Buenos Aires for Pope Leo XIV mass

Thousands of people gathered in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to attend a mass led by Pope Leo XIV.

Many pilgrims arrived in the early hours of Monday morning, spending the night outdoors near the Monument to the Spaniards. People traveled from different cities, including La Plata, bringing sleeping bags, blankets, and flags to secure a spot for the 11.30am service.

The crowd filled the streets between Palermo and Belgrano, chanting religious songs and carrying banners that welcomed the pontiff. The Pope began his day by visiting the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, a facility in the Buenos Aires province that houses more than 400 people with disabilities. After traveling through the metropolitan area in a popemobile, he met with the Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof and local cabinet members.

Following the mass in Palermo, the Pope planned to meet with representatives of the world of work at the Catholic University of Argentina. His schedule continued with meetings with leaders of various religious traditions and a dinner with the country's bishops. President Javier Milei and his cabinet also had a designated area at the Palermo mass alongside local and national officials.