Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Argentina for Second Part of his South American Tour:
Pope Leo XIV landed at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery International Airport on November 8th in the afternoon, marking the start of the second leg of his 12-day, three-nation Apostolic Journey through South America.
After completing his visit to Uruguay, the Pontiff took a brief one-hour flight from Montevideo aboard an Aerolíneas Argentinas Boeing 737 MAX. Upon arrival, Pope Leo was greeted onboard by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Michael Wallace Banach and the Argentinian Chief of Protocol before stepping onto the tarmac, where he was officially welcomed by President Javier Milei. The arrival ceremony featured full military honours, national anthems, standard delegation introductions, and a floral presentation by local children many of whom were in tears, overcome with emotion, and gave the Holy Father a hug.
Among the key religious figures accompanying the visit are Archbishop Banach—appointed Nuncio in May 2026—and Archbishop Marcelo Daniel Colombo of Mendoza, President of the Argentinian Episcopal Conference.
The stop holds deep significance for the Catholic Church, as Buenos Aires is the hometown of Pope Francis, who served as its Archbishop from 1998 until his papal election in 2013. Rich in history, the Latin American cultural hub was founded in 1536 and played a pivotal role in the nation’s independence movement.
Following the ceremony, Pope Leo is scheduled to travel six kilometres to the Retiro district to visit Plaza San Martín, a historic public square named after South American independence hero General José de San Martín.
The Pope’s South American tour will conclude in Peru on November 16.
Arrival: Pope Leo XIV landed at Buenos Aires’ Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport on Sunday afternoon, touching down after a 365 km flight from Montevideo, Uruguay.
Official Reception: Argentinian President Javier Milei met the Pontiff at the aircraft stairs following a greeting by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Michael Wallace Banach. The arrival included military honours, anthems, and floral offerings.
Key Context: This visit marks the second stage of a 12-day journey through Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. Buenos Aires carries strong papal ties as the former archdiocese of Pope Francis.
Next Stop: Following his meeting with President Milei, Pope Leo will travel to the historic Plaza San Martín in the Retiro neighbourhood to honour national hero General José de San Martín.
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