Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in Buenos Aires on Monday, 9 November, drawing a congregation of two million faithful. Since departing on Friday, the 71-year-old pontiff has not paused for a moment. Upon arriving in Uruguay, he praised the country’s energy mix, which relies almost entirely on renewable sources. Shortly after, he addressed the painful reality of suicide in Uruguay, which affects millions and has the highest rate in Latin America. He stressed the importance of healthcare access for all, regardless of means, and called for the transmission of joy and faith and the building of bridges between people. He also spoke of the violence in neighbourhoods that kills young people.
A Pope in Robust Health and on a Mission
The pope is in fine form. Three weeks after lung surgery and a diagnosis of early-stage cancer, he has continued his journey, touching on a wide range of issues: the dehumanisation caused by artificial intelligence, domestic violence, the fight against corruption, the need to place the economy at the service of humanity, and, on Monday evening, the importance of trade unions as an indispensable institution in society.
A Pontiff Who Speaks on Everything
The sovereign pontiff speaks as much about liturgy and religion as he does about politics. He is capable of addressing any subject—international, environmental, economic, social, or societal. Nothing seems to stop him. He has character, as was evident during his visit to France. Pope Leo knows how to make himself heard. He refused a state dinner with the French president and declined an invitation to visit Notre-Dame Cathedral with Emmanuel Macron. He came to reiterate the Church’s doctrine on migrants, his vision of Europe, and the illusion that the rearmament of nations could represent.
The 267th Pope and a Historic Role
Leo XIV, the 267th Catholic pope, could play a historic role. Setting aside the religious dimension—which unsettles some—there is an unprecedented stature to this pope. When he speaks, one detects the power of a John Paul II, a pope who in the 1980s stood against communism. The difference is that Leo XIV condemns not communism but unbridled capitalism. His field of intervention also appears broader, as he reminds the world of the rules to be respected.
It is as if Leo XIV has come to fill the void left by the United Nations over the past two years and the arrival of Donald Trump. The UN can no longer define the world’s red lines. Pope Leo clearly intends to occupy this vacant space and serve as a reference point by defining what should and should not be done. This is all the more significant given that many world leaders are Catholic or Christian and cannot ignore the words of this self-appointed conscience of humanity—a kind of Pope Jiminy Cricket, the good conscience of Pinocchio.
