Argentinians flock to Buenos Aires to see the Pope!
Buenos Aires, Nov 9 (EFE).-
Thousands of pilgrims gathered in the streets of Buenos Aires on Monday ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s first Mass in Argentina, as the pontiff began the day with a visit to the Cottolengo Don Orione center for people with disabilities on the outskirts of the capital.
Since dawn, worshipers had been gathering at various points across the city to secure good viewing spots along the procession route, part of which the pontiff will travel in the popemobile.
Many pilgrims, including people who had travelled from different provinces, camped overnight near the Monument to the Spaniards in the Palermo neighborhood to secure places close to the altar where the pope is due to celebrate Mass at 11:30 a.m. local time (14:30 GMT).
Among those waiting was Aideé Villalba, 67, who traveled from Escobar, 54 kilometers from the capital, with her daughters and grandchildren.
“It’s something historic, unforgettable, that will not happen again,” she told EFE, visibly moved and proud.
Villalba said she hoped Leo XIV would bring “hope” and “peace” to Argentines and, above all, called for greater respect for older people.
The area around the monument and the lakes of Palermo Woods filled with national flags and religious symbols, alongside the Vatican’s yellow and white colours.
Some pilgrims had arrived the previous night to secure a place along the pope’s route. Ian Iannina Vega, 23, who traveled from the south of the country and spent the night near the monument, said he hoped the visit would help bring Argentines together.
“I hope this serves our community and our country to unite, to give us hope and help us move forward,” he told EFE.
Mauro Sosa, 45, travelled from Punta Alta, in southern Buenos Aires province, to attend on behalf of his father, a Falklands War veteran who was unable to come because of mobility difficulties.
“I have been representing him, hoping to see the pope and make a video call so he can see him,” he told EFE.
The sunny weather accompanied the pilgrims as they waited, while around 25,000 volunteers took part in organizational and assistance tasks.
The gathering also attracted visitors from neighboring countries. Yolanda Valdés, 64, traveled from Asunción with a group of 64 Paraguayans.
“The pope is the head of the Church. We have come because of our faith, and we believe it is very important to receive a blessing up close from someone like him,” she told EFE.
With his visit to the Cottolengo center, Leo XIV is paying tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who maintained a close relationship with the institution founded by the Congregation of Don Orione and regularly visited it while serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires.
In his first address in Argentina on Sunday, the pontiff called for social justice, public support for education and research, and greater protection for retirees and people with disabilities.
“The economy must be at the service of the person, and not the person at the service of the economy,” he said in remarks delivered before President Javier Milei, with whom he met for 40 minutes at the Casa Rosada.
Leo XIV began his historic visit to Argentina on Sunday, marking the first papal visit to the country in nearly four decades.
After his engagements in Buenos Aires, he is due to travel to Córdoba on Tuesday and visit Luján on Wednesday, where the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, dedicated to Argentina’s patron saint, is located. EFE
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