Leo XIV in Buenos Aires: Mass at the Monumento de los Españoles before 2.5 million faithful

Leo XIV celebrated today, 9 November, Holy Mass at the Monumento de los Españoles in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires, on the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica — the Pope’s first major Eucharist in Argentina.

According to Bulletin B0890, at 10.00 local time (14.00 Rome time) the Pontiff left the Pequeño Cottolengo in Claypole and transferred to the monument. On arrival he toured among the faithful in an open car and at 11.39 (15.39 Rome time) began the celebration. Local authorities said about two and a half million faithful were present.

Homily: the Christian family is not outdated. After the introductory rites and the Liturgy of the Word, Leo XIV delivered the homily (original in Spanish; English from the Press Office). He told families: “Do not resign yourselves, then, to the voices that keep saying the Christian family is outdated: on the contrary, today more than ever it is a mainstay amid the many precarious situations of our time.” And again: “With him and in him every family can become a seed of authentic renewal for this country.” Then the appeal: “Dear families, I urge you to become protagonists in evangelisation! The Argentine Church needs you.”

Consecration, Our Father and blessing. During the Eucharistic liturgy the Pope held up the host at the consecration; he then led the Our Father in Spanish and, at the end, imparted the apostolic blessing. Archbishop Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva of Buenos Aires addressed a greeting to him. Around 13.15 local time (17.15 Rome time), after the presentation of a gift, Leo XIV returned to the Apostolic Nunciature.

Follow the journey live blog: [Pope Leo XIV’s Latin America journey](/articolo/pope-leo-xiv-s-latin-america-journey-live-updates-c2a5?lang=en).

Sources: Holy See Press Office, B0890; Vatican Media video.