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Pope Leo XIV draws record crowds during historic Buenos Aires visit

Pope Leo XIV has celebrated a massive public mass in Buenos Aires, drawing the largest congregation of his papacy as Argentina welcomed its first papal visit in decades. The pontiff also met with victims of abuse during the landmark trip.

LSN Malaysia · 10 November 2026

Pope Leo XIV draws record crowds during historic Buenos Aires visit

Pope Leo XIV presided over a monumental religious gathering in the Argentine capital, marking a significant moment in his tenure as head of the Catholic Church. The scale of the event underscored the deep religious devotion among Argentina's faithful and the symbolic importance of the visit to the South American nation.

The papal visit represents a historic occasion for Argentina, which had not hosted a reigning pontiff in recent decades. The mass drew crowds that exceeded previous gatherings during Pope Leo XIV's papacy, reflecting widespread anticipation for the event across Buenos Aires and surrounding regions.

Beyond the public liturgical celebrations, the Pope's itinerary included meetings with survivors of abuse, demonstrating the Church's ongoing engagement with victims and reflecting increased attention to accountability issues within Catholic institutions. These private audiences formed a significant component of the papal visit.

The trip solidifies Pope Leo XIV's commitment to direct pastoral engagement with Catholics across different regions and his efforts to address longstanding concerns within the global Church. The visit is expected to carry considerable symbolic weight both domestically in Argentina and internationally within Catholic communities throughout South America and beyond.