Milei praises Francis as Pope Leo urges Argentina to put people before the economy

President Javier Milei spoke warmly of Pope Francis on Sunday, November 8, calling him an "exceptional figure" and "the most important Argentine in history," according to Deutsche Welle. The remarks came as Pope Leo XIV arrived in Buenos Aires, the second leg of his South America tour and the first papal visit to Argentina in nearly 40 years.

The tone is a shift from Milei's record. He previously dismissed criticism from the Catholic Church and called Francis an "imbecile," though he later softened and met Francis in Rome. Church criticism has focused on cuts to social services, pensions, disability assistance and public universities, which Milei has defended as necessary to stabilize the economy. DW reports annual inflation has fallen from more than 200% to approximately 33% under his administration, while households still face financial pressure and anger persists over public-sector layoffs and business closures.

Leo did not address the government's policies directly, according to DW. He said "the economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy," and pointed to workers who "despite hard work, nonetheless struggle to meet their household's needs." He also told Milei and other officials that strengthening democracy required a "willingness to listen" and the "careful use of words," a remark that DW links to concerns about polarization, attacks on journalists and political opponents, and Milei's stated plan to seek another term in the 2027 presidential election.

The open question is whether the warmer tone toward the Church changes any of the policy disputes. The reporting so far shows a change in rhetoric, not in budgets, pension rules or university funding. Whether the government adjusts those policies, and how it treats the pope's call on democratic conduct, will be the test to watch in the months before the election.