Pope Leo XIV Urges Argentina to Protect Vulnerable Amid Austerity Cuts

OPA WIRE, Nov 9 (OPA) — Pope Leo XIV visited the Cottolengo Don Orione care centre in Claypole, south of Buenos Aires, meeting residents and addressing the impact of government funding cuts. The 50-hectare institution, founded in 1935, houses more than 400 people with disabilities and has struggled with severe financial shortfalls following federal budget reductions.

During his tour, the Pope embraced residents in wheelchairs and declared their lives a blessing rather than a burden to society. In the centre's chapel, he defended human dignity and argued that national progress is measured by how a society treats its most vulnerable populations. The visit coincides with heightened political friction between the administration and disability advocacy groups over federal funding.

Last year, the Argentine Congress overturned a presidential veto on a law aimed at increasing sector funding, though the executive branch has resisted implementation to protect fiscal targets. Care centres nationwide face outstanding debts totaling hundreds of thousands of euros, affecting specialised therapy programs relied upon by approximately five million people with disabilities in Argentina. The Senate is scheduled to review a draft bill reserving funds for disability benefits in the upcoming budget.

Later on Monday, the pontiff was slated to address business leaders, trade union representatives, and popular movements at the Catholic University of Argentina. President Milei's broad economic reforms, introduced after taking office at the end of 2023, have slashed public spending and removed trade restrictions, drawing sharp criticism from labour unions and Catholic social teaching advocates alike.