CÓRDOBA, Argentina — Amid a sea of hundreds of thousands of the faithful waving flags and chanting hymns, Pope Leo XIV led a massive, high-profile outdoor Mass in Córdoba

on Tuesday, using the occasion to urge Argentines to "go out and evangelize" in their everyday lives while honoring the deep spiritual roots of the South American nation.

The solemn and energetic religious service, which commenced just after 10:00 a.m. local time, was held on the sprawling grounds of the Military Aviation School at the Argentine Aircraft Factory, widely known as FAdeA. This marked the second major public Mass delivered by the Pontiff during his ongoing and closely watched pastoral visit to Argentina, drawing staggering crowds that had begun gathering hours before dawn to secure a glimpse of the Holy Father.

"We celebrate this Holy Mass for главных the sanctification of the Argentine people, for the sanctification of all of you," Pope Leo told the rapt congregation, his voice carrying across the vast industrial and aviation complex.

The Pontiff reflected on the historical fabric of Argentine faith, drawing attention to ordinary men and women throughout the nation’s history "who were called by the Lord and sent on a mission, without even realizing how extraordinary their evangelizing work would become; for all Christians are simply servants, and we need do nothing more than fulfill our duty."

In his homily, Pope Leo invoked several revered Argentine saints and religious figures who left an indelible mark on the country’s social and spiritual conscience. Among them was San José Gabriel Brochero, affectionately remembered by locals as "Cura Brochero," a Catholic priest celebrated for his tireless, lifelong dedication to the poor, the sick, and the marginalized in remote rural areas. He also highlighted María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, known in Quechua as Mama Antula, a pioneering Catholic religious sister who established the Daughters of the Divine Savior order in Santiago del Estero, defying the social conventions of her time to foster spiritual retreats and community support.

Continuing his address, the Pope referenced his "venerated predecessor," Pope Francis, quoting his famous teachings on the intersection of faith and social justice. "The poor need God and people who demonstrate the power of Christian love through their lives," Leo XIV reminded the multitude.

"All these saints and blesseds have already fulfilled their mission on Earth. Today, it is up to us to follow the shining path of holiness they left behind," the Pontiff added, calling directly upon the congregation to "open your hearts" and actively spread the Gospel in their day-to-day routines.

"Go forth and be saints at school, in the square, with your families and friends, in the countryside and in the city, on the farm and in the office," he urged, inspiring prolonged applause from the gathered faithful.

A Multitude Welcoming the Pope

The scale of Tuesday’s gathering underscored the profound religious fervor surrounding the papal visit. Pope Leo XIV had been welcomed by an overwhelming multitude moments after touching down and arriving in Córdoba shortly before 9:00 a.m.

According to figures provided by Córdoba’s Institutional Management and Coordination Minister, more than 450,000 people had already passed through the security checkpoints and entered the FAdeA grounds by 7:00 a.m. alone. Ahead of the events, Córdoba Governor Martín Llaryora had projected that the Pontiff’s packed itinerary across three scheduled activities in the province would ultimately draw a cumulative crowd of more than one million people.

Governor Llaryora took to social media platform X to formally welcome the Holy Father to the province. He stated that the people of Córdoba "join in a warm, tight embrace to welcome [the Pontiff] with open arms and hearts full of faith and joy."

The official welcoming delegations reflected the diverse social fabric of the region. They included students ranging from elementary to secondary education who had traveled from high-mountain communities and the urban centers of Córdoba, alongside dedicated delegations representing organizations that champion the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.

Human Rights Letter and Symbolic Venue

Beyond the liturgical celebrations, Pope Leo XIV’s schedule in Córdoba carried deep historical and social resonance. Later in the day, the Pontiff was scheduled to personally receive a poignant letter from the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, the enduring human rights organization that continues its decades-long search for the children of pregnant women who were systematically kidnapped and disappeared during Argentina’s last military dictatorship.

As part of this poignant engagement, the Pope was set to meet privately with the family of Sonia Torres. Torres was the mother of Silvina Parodi, a young woman who gave birth to a baby boy, Daniel Efraín Orozco-Parodi, while held captive inside a Córdoba maternity facility before being transferred to the notorious Buen Pastor detention center, which was run by nuns at the time.

The letter from the Grandmothers is scheduled to be hand-delivered by Alba Camargo, a daughter and niece of dictatorship survivors who is herself a survivor of the Buen Pastor detention center. Camargo was chosen as part of a 20-person delegation selected by Bishop Ángel Rossi to represent local struggles for dignity, historical memory, and enduring hope.

The choice of the Argentine Aircraft Factory grounds as the venue for the Mass also placed one of the country’s most iconic industrial and historical sites into the global spotlight. Situated along Fuerza Aérea Avenue, the massive facility spans upwards of 200 hectares, incorporating active runways, vast aircraft assembly hangars, and specialized modernization and painting workshops.

The main altar for Tuesday’s grand religious ceremony was constructed on open grounds within the complex—the exact historic location where Pope John Paul II famously celebrated Mass during his landmark pastoral visit to Argentina in 1987.

Following the morning Mass, Pope Leo XIV’s busy Tuesday itinerary continued with a closed-door meeting alongside local clerical authorities at the Córdoba Cathedral, scheduled for 3:15 p.m., before he boards a flight to return to Buenos Aires later in the afternoon.

Concluding his demanding day of engagements, the Pontiff is scheduled to gather with thousands of young people on Tuesday night at the Monumento de los Españoles, situated at the intersection of Libertador and Sarmiento avenues, for a youth vigil.