Pope Leo XIV visited the Cottolengo Don Orione disability-care center in Claypole, near Buenos Aires, on Monday, Nov. 9, and said a country’s progress can be measured by how it welcomes people with disabilities. The stop was part of his first full day in Argentina during a three-country South American journey.

Leo’s message at the Claypole care center

At the center, Leo spoke about dignity, belonging and the place of people with disabilities in society. Vatican News reported that he described the residents as a blessing rather than a burden and urged Argentina to measure progress by how it welcomes people with disabilities and particular needs. The Cottolengo complex houses more than 400 residents, according to the Vatican account.

The visit came during the Argentina leg of a 12-day tour through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Our earlier report on Pope Leo’s arrival in Argentina covered the itinerary; Monday’s visit and remarks are a new development from that schedule.

Disability support is part of a wider policy debate

The Associated Press placed the visit against the effects of President Javier Milei’s austerity measures on health and social services, and reported that Argentina’s Senate was due to consider disability-benefit funding for next year’s budget. Reuters has separately reported that Milei’s spending cuts reduced social services, including disability benefits. The Vatican’s account focused on Leo’s message about dignity and inclusion; the political context is reported separately and should not be read as a direct attribution of motive for the visit.

The center visit followed Leo’s arrival in Buenos Aires on Sunday and came before further public events on his Argentina itinerary. The Holy See’s report and the AP account both identify the Claypole stop as a central part of the pope’s Monday program.

Sources

Associated Press: Pope Leo visits Argentina disability-care center

Reuters, republished by Internazionale: Argentina’s disability-benefit and social-service debate

Vatican News: Leo’s visit and remarks at the Don Orione center