Argentine President Javier Milei became emotional and struggled to hold back tears as he bid farewell to Pope Leo XIV at Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini International Airport on Wednesday.&nbsp;The pontiff was preparing to board an Aerolíneas Argentinas flight to Peru, the final stop on his three-nation Latin American tour. Milei, dressed in a dark suit, embraced the Pope and spoke briefly with him near the aircraft stairs. Cameras captured the president fighting back tears and repeatedly asking the Pope to pray for him as the pontiff prepared to leave.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Javier Milei in tears, absolutely balling his eyes out, thanking Pope Leo XIV for his visit, as he asks the Pope repeatedly to pray for him.

This has been an incredibly well organised trip. Everyone involved should rightly be praised. Argentina you won. https://t.co/1vAO8wZqXp&mdash; Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) <a href="https://x.com/CatholicSat/status/2120567413095956569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Pope's historic visit to Argentina</h2>Pope Leo XIV's visit was the first papal trip to Argentina since John Paul II travelled to the country in 1987. His four-day stay drew huge crowds, with more than three million people attending his final Mass outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján on Wednesday, according to a local government source cited by AFP.&nbsp;"Thank you, Argentina, for welcoming me with open arms," the Pope told the crowds as he bid farewell at the major Catholic pilgrimage site.&nbsp;The 71-year-old pontiff later arrived in Lima, Peru, for the final leg of his tour, just weeks after undergoing surgery for lung cancer.<h2>Pope's remarks on Milei's economic policies</h2>During his visit, Pope Leo XIV also criticised Milei's austerity measures, calling for economic growth to benefit ordinary people.&nbsp;"The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy," he said shortly after arriving in Argentina.&nbsp;He highlighted the struggles of people who continue to find it difficult to meet household expenses despite working hard. The Pope also called for greater support for the poor, pensioners and people affected by illness, dependency and disability.&nbsp;Addressing the importance of democratic values, he urged leaders to show a "willingness to listen" and exercise the "careful use of words" — remarks seen as a veiled criticism of Milei's often aggressive political rhetoric.&nbsp;Milei defended his government's approach, saying it was working to avoid "punishing the Argentines of tomorrow in order to benefit the Argentines of today".

Argentine President Javier Milei became emotional while bidding farewell to Pope Leo XIV, days after the pontiff criticised his government's austerity measures during his visit to Argentina.

Argentine President Javier Milei became emotional and struggled to hold back tears as he bid farewell to Pope Leo XIV at Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini International Airport on Wednesday. The pontiff was preparing to board an Aerolíneas Argentinas flight to Peru, the final stop on his three-nation Latin American tour. Milei, dressed in a dark suit, embraced the Pope and spoke briefly with him near the aircraft stairs. Cameras captured the president fighting back tears and repeatedly asking the Pope to pray for him as the pontiff prepared to leave.

Argentine President Javier Milei became emotional while bidding farewell to Pope Leo XIV, days after the pontiff criticised his government's austerity measures during his visit to Argentina.

Watch: Argentina President Milei's teary farewell to Pope Leo after pontiff takes him to task over austerity measures

Pope Leo XIV has said that while the Catholic Church has been "abusive" at times, he would not call sex abuse "systemic" in the Church. Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane on Monday (Sep 28) as he returned from a four-day visit to France, the pontiff also addressed rising concerns over artificial intelligence and said they should be taken seriously. However, he stressed that he is not “in panic mode” over the rapid development of the technology.<h2>Pope says AI warnings should not be dismissed</h2>Responding to questions about the risks posed by artificial intelligence, Leo said he was taking the issue seriously but was not alarmed. “If someone were to ask me, am I in panic mode? No, I'm not. I sleep at night,” he said.The pope argued that warnings about AI should not simply be dismissed as exaggerated claims or “fake news”. “This is a problem that I think we need to sit down and talk about,” he said. “To simply say ‘Oh, it's not going to happen’ and close our eyes to it, I think is probably not the most responsible way to go about that.”During his France visit, Leo repeatedly warned about the need to protect humanity as AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life.“If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines invading and conditioning our daily lives, there is an urgent need for education in ethical discernment,” he said.The Vatican has in recent months increased its focus on international discussions around AI governance, including its impact on areas such as nuclear technology, culture and artistic creation.<h2>Leo addresses sex abuse in the Church</h2>The pope was also questioned about the Catholic Church's long-running sexual abuse crisis following a meeting with victims in France. Leo said several survivors had spoken to him about “systemic abuse in the Church”. However, he said he preferred to frame the issue differently.“Personally, I prefer to express it in a different way, although I did speak about some organisations within the church who have at times, if you will, as a system, been abusive,” he said.He acknowledged the profound impact of abuse on victims, saying their “lives of faith are deeply wounded and sometimes even destroyed”.“There’s a particular responsibility of the church to walk with them and to help them seek healing,” he said.<h2>Pope defends stance on assisted dying</h2>Leo also defended his opposition to assisted dying, insisting that his comments during the France visit were based on moral considerations rather than an attempt to intervene in French politics.France's parliament passed legislation this year allowing assisted dying in certain circumstances.Asked whether he had crossed the line between church and state by speaking about the issue, Leo replied: “I did not cross it.”He said the Church's position was centred on accompanying people experiencing “sickness or disability or pain” and affirming what he described as the value of human life. “So I would say if that's politics, I did that, but it was not to get involved in French politics,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV has urged the world not to dismiss warnings over artificial intelligence as “fake news”, saying the risks deserve serious attention. The pontiff also addressed sexual abuse in the Church and defended his opposition to assisted dying.

Pope Leo XIV has said that while the Catholic Church has been "abusive" at times, he would not call sex abuse "systemic" in the Church. Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane on Monday (Sep 28) as he returned from a four-day visit to France, the pontiff also addressed rising concerns over artificial intelligence and said they should be taken seriously. However, he stressed that he is not “in panic mode” over the rapid development of the technology. Pope says AI warnings should not be dismissed Responding to questions about the risks posed by artificial intelligence, Leo said he was taking the issue seriously but was not alarmed. “If someone were to ask me, am I in panic mode? No, I'm not. I sleep at night,” he said. The pope argued that warnings about AI should not simply be dismissed as exaggerated claims or “fake news”. “This is a problem that I think we need to sit down and talk about,” he said. “To simply say ‘Oh, it's not going to happen’ and close our eyes to it, I think is probably not the most responsible way to go about that.” During his France visit, Leo repeatedly warned about the need to protect humanity as AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life. “If we are to avoid losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines invading and conditioning our daily lives, there is an urgent need for education in ethical discernment,” he said. The Vatican has in recent months increased its focus on international discussions around AI governance, including its impact on areas such as nuclear technology, culture and artistic creation. Leo addresses sex abuse in the Church The pope was also questioned about the Catholic Church's long-running sexual abuse crisis following a meeting with victims in France. Leo said several survivors had spoken to him about “systemic abuse in the Church”. However, he said he preferred to frame the issue differently. “Personally, I prefer to express it in a different way, although I did speak about some organisations within the church who have at times, if you will, as a system, been abusive,” he said. He acknowledged the profound impact of abuse on victims, saying their “lives of faith are deeply wounded and sometimes even destroyed”. “There’s a particular responsibility of the church to walk with them and to help them seek healing,” he said. Pope defends stance on assisted dying Leo also defended his opposition to assisted dying, insisting that his comments during the France visit were based on moral considerations rather than an attempt to intervene in French politics. France's parliament passed legislation this year allowing assisted dying in certain circumstances. Asked whether he had crossed the line between church and state by speaking about the issue, Leo replied: “I did not cross it.” He said the Church's position was centred on accompanying people experiencing “sickness or disability or pain” and affirming what he described as the value of human life. “So I would say if that's politics, I did that, but it was not to get involved in French politics,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV has urged the world not to dismiss warnings over artificial intelligence as “fake news”, saying the risks deserve serious attention. The pontiff also addressed sexual abuse in the Church and defended his opposition to assisted dying.

Pope Leo XIV denies sex abuse 'systemic' in the Church, backs AI concerns says fears aren’t ‘fake news’

A section of traditional Catholics is turning against the authority of Pope Leo XVI. They are consecrating four bishops next week without papal consent. The group Society of St Pius X (SSPX) is seeking a schismatic outsider status instead of reconciliation with the papacy. They do not mind that their four bishops will not be in communion with Rome. The July 1 event marks nearly four decades since the group SSPX became a thorn in the Vatican's side. The SSPX superior, Fr Davide Pagliarani, has justified the consecrations as a “state of necessity” to save souls.“The ceremony of July 1st will have no other purpose than to ensure the continued administration of the sacraments of Holy Orders and Confirmation, together with those sacramentals reserved to bishops, according to the traditional rite of the Holy Roman Church and the immemorial Faith,” said Pagliarani.&nbsp;They have organised a large-scale, four-day, livestreamed event at their Swiss seminary, complete with booking accommodation, car pooling network and custom levelled festival wine for attendees.Pope Leo has warned that any act of consecration will automatically result in excommunication. While Pope Leo tried to bring them back to the mainstream, they hit a brick wall over ideological contradictions.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-army-rare-earth-processing-military-bases-1782471550958">US Army to build rare earth processing plants on military bases to cut China dependence</a><h2>What is the Society of St Pius X (SSPX)?</h2>&nbsp;"To me, they look really like Traditionalism 2.0," said Massimo Faggioli, professor of theology at Villanova University, Leo's alma mater. The group has embraced the digital branding of its anti-modern, traditional and religious identity. "Their game is not about getting back into the fold, but getting back into the monopoly of that ultra-traditionalist identity," said Faggioli.&nbsp;The group split with the papacy over the modernising reforms of the 1960s Second Vatican Council. The group prefer their Masses in Latin and says that the post-Vatican II Church is awash in heresies and strayed from the core of Catholicism. It argues that its uncompromising traditionalism is the only shield against the peril of modernism. The group first broke with the Vatican in 1988, when its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated four bishops without papal consent. The Vatican then excommunicated them; the group still has no legal status. It continues to grow parallel to the Vatican- with two bishops, 733 priests, 264 seminarians, 145 religious brothers, 88 oblates and 250 religious sisters representing 50 nationalities.&nbsp;

The Society of St. Pius X plans to consecrate four bishops without papal approval, risking excommunication and deepening its decades-long split with the Vatican.

A section of traditional Catholics is turning against the authority of Pope Leo XVI. They are consecrating four bishops next week without papal consent. The group Society of St Pius X (SSPX) is seeking a schismatic outsider status instead of reconciliation with the papacy. They do not mind that their four bishops will not be in communion with Rome. The July 1 event marks nearly four decades since the group SSPX became a thorn in the Vatican's side. The SSPX superior, Fr Davide Pagliarani, has justified the consecrations as a “state of necessity” to save souls. “The ceremony of July 1st will have no other purpose than to ensure the continued administration of the sacraments of Holy Orders and Confirmation, together with those sacramentals reserved to bishops, according to the traditional rite of the Holy Roman Church and the immemorial Faith,” said Pagliarani. They have organised a large-scale, four-day, livestreamed event at their Swiss seminary, complete with booking accommodation, car pooling network and custom levelled festival wine for attendees. Pope Leo has warned that any act of consecration will automatically result in excommunication. While Pope Leo tried to bring them back to the mainstream, they hit a brick wall over ideological contradictions. Also Read: US Army to build rare earth processing plants on military bases to cut China dependence What is the Society of St Pius X (SSPX)? "To me, they look really like Traditionalism 2.0," said Massimo Faggioli, professor of theology at Villanova University, Leo's alma mater. The group has embraced the digital branding of its anti-modern, traditional and religious identity. "Their game is not about getting back into the fold, but getting back into the monopoly of that ultra-traditionalist identity," said Faggioli. The group split with the papacy over the modernising reforms of the 1960s Second Vatican Council. The group prefer their Masses in Latin and says that the post-Vatican II Church is awash in heresies and strayed from the core of Catholicism. It argues that its uncompromising traditionalism is the only shield against the peril of modernism. The group first broke with the Vatican in 1988, when its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated four bishops without papal consent. The Vatican then excommunicated them; the group still has no legal status. It continues to grow parallel to the Vatican- with two bishops, 733 priests, 264 seminarians, 145 religious brothers, 88 oblates and 250 religious sisters representing 50 nationalities.

The Society of St. Pius X plans to consecrate four bishops without papal approval, risking excommunication and deepening its decades-long split with the Vatican.

Traditionalist Catholics reject Pope Leo XVI and Vatican authority in a dramatic showdown

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Watch: Argentina President Milei's teary farewell to Pope Leo after pontiff takes him to task over austerity measures

Pope Leo XIV denies sex abuse 'systemic' in the Church, backs AI concerns

Traditionalist Catholics reject Pope Leo XVI in dramatic showdown with Rome