Pope Leo XIV visits disability center to challenge austerity policies

Pope Leo XIV traveled to the Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, Argentina, on Monday to press for stronger protections for the country's most vulnerable residents. The visit serves as a direct response to the austerity measures implemented by President Javier Milei. The institution, located south of Buenos Aires, houses more than 400 people with disabilities on 123 acres of land.

Founded by an Italian priest in 1935, the center has faced severe financial pressure under the current administration. Milei's government has cut funding for specialized therapy programs and frozen payments to care homes. These changes have left the facility and similar institutions with outstanding debts in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The center serves as a key provider of services for an estimated 5 million people with disabilities in Argentina.

Leo arrived to find residents and staff members in an emotional state. Many wept as he greeted guests in wheelchairs. He spent time speaking with them and offered blessings. In the center's chapel, he urged Argentines to value human dignity over economic success. He called for a shift away from the "cult of outward appearances" toward "great works of charity."

"A nation's progress is also measured by how it welcomes all people with disabilities and particular needs," Leo said. He expressed a hope that the country would prioritize care for those with special needs as a central tenet of its social structure. This statement aligns with his previous comments on Sunday, where he noted that the economy must serve the person rather than the other way around.

The visit occurs at a critical moment for Argentine legislation. The Senate is set to consider a bill that would allocate specific funds for disability benefits in the upcoming budget. Milei opposes this measure. Last year, Congress overrode a presidential veto to increase disability care funding, but the administration has resisted full implementation. Officials cite concerns that the spending could disrupt the fiscal balance they have established.

Kuyen Rolon Rey, a volunteer at the Cottolengo home, described the pope's choice of location as a powerful gesture. "The people here deserve this grace," she said. "Choosing such a small place, but big if measured with love, makes us very happy." The visit marks the start of a busy schedule for Leo, who is set to meet with business leaders and union representatives later in the day.

Milei's administration has framed its spending cuts as necessary reforms to eliminate fraud and waste in the federal bureaucracy. This stance has made him a prominent figure in the global conservative movement. Since taking office in late 2023, his policies have impacted various sectors, including domestic manufacturers and labor unions. These groups are also scheduled to meet with the pope on Monday.

Thousands of Argentines gathered at the Monumento a los Españoles in Buenos Aires on Monday morning for Leo's Mass. The event was expected to draw up to 2 million attendees. The site hosted the last papal Mass in Argentina nearly 40 years ago, led by St. John Paul II. Many attendees arrived late Sunday night to secure a spot for the service.

Isabel Martín, a 73-year-old attendee from San Andrés Avelino, said she hoped the pope would influence Milei's spending decisions. "The weakest cannot be the ones carrying the burden of the adjustment, especially poor retirees," she said. Argentina's minimum pension is currently approximately $300, a figure that covers only a fraction of the cost for medicine, housing, and food for older adults.

Margarita Lanús, who turned 16 on Monday, shared a cake with her family while waiting for the Mass. She noted that the pope's direct communication style resonates with younger Argentines. The tour continues later this week in Peru, the second stop of a three-nation itinerary. Large crowds gathered outside the Vatican nunciature in Buenos Aires on Sunday evening to greet the pontiff.