Pope Leo tells Argentina’s Trump ally Milei that leaders must know limits of power

BUENOS AIRES: Pope Leo on Sunday urged Argentina to safeguard its democracy in a closely watched speech to President Javier Milei, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, during the second stop of a 12-day South American tour by the Catholic leader.

Leo told Milei, who has said he will seek reelection next year, that leaders must seek to better the lives of all their citizens and know the limits of their power. Milei’s austerity agenda has been criticized by the Church for hitting the poorest most, and the president has strongly supported the Iran war.

“Authority is most authentic when it is exercised as service,” the pope said in an address opening a three-day visit to Argentina, the first by a pope to the majority-Catholic country since 1987.