Mid-City Christian: Argentina welcomes Pope Leo XIV

In Argentina, Leo urges leaders to safeguard democracy

In his first speech in Buenos Aires, Pope Leo XIV told President Javier Milei and Argentina’s leaders that democracy “needs to be safeguarded” and is strengthened by “careful use of words.” Addressing authorities and diplomats at the Palacio Libertad after a 40-minute private meeting with Milei at the Casa Rosada, he said authority “is most authentic when it is exercised as service,” drawing applause that made him repeat a line on acknowledging “the limits of the power entrusted” to leaders. He urged that growth also benefit the disadvantaged, asked why young people must emigrate to realize their dreams, defended the unborn and people with disabilities, and warned against corruption and organized crime. CNN, AP, and the BBC read the speech as a diplomatic critique of Milei’s austerity agenda; Milei defended his policies in his own remarks. — Full text (Holy See Press Office) · CNN · AP · America · BBC · Vatican News

Leo arrives in the homeland Francis never revisited

Pope Leo landed in Buenos Aires Sunday afternoon, welcomed by Milei at the foot of the plane, in the first papal visit to Argentina since St. John Paul II in 1987. In his speech he said he was “in some sense retracing” Francis’ steps; Milei, who once insulted Francis, called him “the most important Argentinian in history.” He paused in silent prayer at the San Martín monument and received the keys to the city from Mayor Jorge Macri. — National Catholic Reporter · Vatican News · America · Official account (Holy See Press Office) · Also: Where Peter Is (Claudio Iván Remeseira)

Leaving Uruguay, Leo reconsecrates the country to Mary

At his farewell Mass before about 50,000 people at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three in Florida, Leo placed a Golden Rose before Uruguay’s patroness and consecrated the nation to her anew. He thanked the mothers, grandmothers, and catechists who passed on the faith, telling those grieving children who no longer pray to “never tire” and remember St. Monica: “There are doors that you cannot open, but God can.” He asked fathers to show that a man can kneel before God, and urged Uruguayans to go out to those who have drifted. — Full text (Holy See Press Office) · Vatican News · Vatican News (farewell)

Pope mourns victims of Kraków shooting

In a telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, Pope Leo said he was “deeply saddened” by Saturday’s shooting in Kraków’s Main Market Square, which killed six people. He invoked Our Lady, Queen of Poland, and urged mourners to “persevere tirelessly in the search for peace and harmony.” Prosecutors are treating the attack as terrorism; the 24-year-old gunman, who officials said held far-right views, died in a hospital early Monday, police said. — Telegram (Holy See Press Office) · Vatican News · AP · BBC

Pope and Holy See

Today in Argentina: a center for people with disabilities, then Mass in Buenos Aires. Leo visits the Don Orione Little Cottolengo in Claypole, home to more than 400 residents — a stop observers link to the government’s disability-aid cuts — and celebrates an open-air Mass at the Monument of the Spaniards. Córdoba follows Tuesday and Luján Wednesday. — Vatican News · [ES] La Nación (schedule) · AFP
From the Holy See Press Office, Nov. 8: farewell from Uruguay, a stop on the way to Florida, and a meeting with fellow Augustinians. Leo prayed at Santa Teresita parish and greeted about 2,000 people en route to Florida; at Montevideo he took leave of President Yamandú Orsi and sent him a farewell telegram thanking Uruguay for its “warm reception”; and in Buenos Aires he met privately with members of the Augustinian Order at the nunciature. — Farewell and arrival (Holy See Press Office) · Florida Mass account · Casa Rosada account
[IT] Leo names Bishop Abel Apigo of Mati archbishop of Davao, Philippines. Today’s bulletin, the only entry so far, reports that the pope accepted the resignation of Archbishop Romulo Valles and transferred Apigo, 58, a longtime rector of Davao’s regional seminary, to lead the archdiocese. — Holy See Press Office
Tornielli: Leo’s Uruguay vigil asks whether believers themselves make room for Christ. Vatican News editorial director Andrea Tornielli reflects on the pope’s Bethlehem image for secular societies, from Saturday’s stadium vigil. Where Peter Is excerpted the passage (“Is there room for him?”). — Vatican News · Where Peter Is
Leo voted in the U.S. midterms but not in Peru. What does that say about papal identity? Justin McLellan looks at the debate over the first documented vote by a sitting pope, ahead of Leo’s visit to his adopted country. — National Catholic Reporter

United States

Democrats with a Christian message helped flip Congress. AP reports on candidates who spoke openly about faith in winning races across the country in last week’s midterms. — AP via Crux
New York archdiocese joins sisters’ lawsuit against assisted suicide. Global Sisters Report’s Monday roundup also notes that the Sisters of Charity of New York were “troubled” by bishops’ photo-op with President Trump, and a new coordinator for Mexico’s office on women religious’ health. — Global Sisters Report via NCR (Rhina Guidos)

Around the World

Belarus sentences Catholic priest who opposed the Ukraine war to three years. Fr. Anatoly Parakhnevich, 66, who helped Ukrainian refugees, was convicted of “insulting the authorities” and “extremism” in a closed-door trial; the Viasna rights group calls him a political prisoner. — AP via National Catholic Reporter
80 Spanish Civil War martyrs beatified in Santander. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, representing Leo, beatified Francisco González de Córdova and 79 companions, calling holiness “the common vocation of every baptized person.” — Vatican News
[ES] Sisters and religious march against pollution from El Salvador’s megaprison. Residents near the Cecot prison say their water changed color and smell after its construction. — Global Sisters Report (Rhina Guidos)

Liturgy and Church Life

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. The Church worldwide marks the dedication of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome — this year celebrated while the pope is on pilgrimage in Argentina. — USCCB readings

Video and Podcasts

Colleen Dulle on papal politics and Peru. America’s Vatican correspondent and Inside the Vatican co-host analyzes the trip’s Argentina leg on France 24. — France 24
Third Space: Marcus Mescher on “deformed consciences.” WPI co-founder Paul Fahey talks with the Xavier University ethicist about moral injury and Magnifica Humanitas on ecclesial repentance and renewal. — Third Space

Commentary

Opinion: Newly beatified Sheen deserves a closer look by all. David Mihalyfy reflects on the joyful, unpolarized beatification day in St. Louis and on lesser-known sides of Fulton Sheen — his care for ex-Communist Bella Dodd, his Byzantine-rite practice, and his Vatican II plea for poverty. — Where Peter Is
Opinion: Not from the pulpit. Msgr. Arthur Holquin responds to a widely shared post-election homily by Fr. Chris Alar, arguing it misstated Church teaching and set aside the day’s readings. — Liturgy and Truth
Opinion: The elected now face the challenge of governing. Fr. Thomas Reese says politics as usual will not serve the country after the midterms. — Religion News Service via NCR