Pope Leo XIV sharply criticized President Javier Milei’s austerity measures during his first visit to Argentina by a pontiff in nearly four decades, urging an economy that serves people and defending the poor, pensioners and people affected by illness, dependency and disability. Speaking in Buenos Aires on Sunday during the second leg of his 12-day Latin America tour, Leo also called for a willingness to listen, careful use of words and personal integrity in public office. The visit, which follows lung cancer surgery less than a month ago, is intended to strengthen Catholic faith and potentially help bridge divisions after three years of austerity. Milei’s spending cuts have reduced annual inflation from more than 200% to 33%, but subsidy reductions, public-sector layoffs and pressure on hospitals, universities and pensioners have damaged his popularity ahead of next year’s elections. Poverty rose to 32.3% in September, while Milei retains strong support for reducing inflation. Leo, the first US-born pope, spent 20 years ministering in Peru and is visiting Argentina for the first time since 1987. His itinerary includes a prison, a disability care center and three open-air masses, with the church expecting 7 million attendees. Argentina’s Catholic share has fallen to 57.7% from about 90% in the 1960s. The pope and Milei also hold sharply different views on artificial intelligence, with Leo warning about its risks and Milei seeking to make Argentina a haven for unregulated development.