Pope Leo XIV visited the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione, a residential care home for people with disabilities in Claypole, Buenos Aires province, on Monday, marking the very first item on his official agenda for the second day of his historic apostolic visit to Argentina. The pontiff touched down in the South American country on Sunday afternoon, beginning a journey that has drawn immense crowds and high expectations from the faithful across the nation.
Upon his arrival at the institution in Claypole, the Holy Father was warmly welcomed by Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof. Also present to greet the Pope were various provincial and municipal officials, as well as institutional representatives and leaders of the religious order that administers the facility. The atmosphere outside and within the facility grounds was one of profound anticipation and emotional resonance, as residents, families, and support staff gathered to catch a glimpse of the pontiff.
Following his poignant stop at the Cottolengo, Pope Leo’s itinerary moved swiftly toward the capital. He was scheduled to travel into Buenos Aires City to celebrate a massive outdoor Mass at the iconic Monument to the Spaniards. Even before his arrival at the venue, hundreds of thousands of people had already secured their spots, with organizers and local authorities expecting millions of attendees to participate in the landmark liturgical service.
However, it was his intimate and powerful encounter at the residential home that provided one of the most defining and resonant moments of his journey so far. Addressing the residents, staff members, and dedicated volunteers at the institution—which currently provides specialized care and housing for approximately 400 individuals with severe intellectual and physical disabilities—Pope Leo delivered an address that struck a chord across the national landscape.
“I want to affirm today that your lives are not a burden for society; they are a blessing, because you can help us remember the foundation of every human being’s dignity and what is truly important in life,” the Pope said, his words drawing a powerful emotional response from the gathered crowd.
Expanding on his thematic focus of human dignity and societal responsibility, the pontiff argued that a nation’s level of progress and civilization should never be evaluated solely through narrow economic metrics, Gross Domestic Product, or financial balance sheets. True development, he suggested, is fundamentally moral and humanitarian.
“A nation’s progress is also measured by how well it welcomes all people with disabilities and special needs,” he told the audience.
In a pointed message that resonated deeply within the current domestic climate, the Pope urged Argentina as a whole to undertake what he termed “great works of charity.” He called firmly for the construction of a cohesive society in which “the love of Christ triumphs over individualism and exclusion.” These remarks carried a distinct societal weight, coming at a time when people living with disabilities, their families, and their daily caregivers have found themselves among the demographic sectors hardest hit by sweeping public spending cuts and austerity measures implemented under the government of President Javier Milei.
A community of open doors
During his time at the institution, Pope Leo took the opportunity to praise the relentless and compassionate work carried out at the Cottolengo. He described the facility as a living community where authentic Christian charity is visibly manifested not merely through grand institutional programs, but through everyday gestures, acts of patience, and welcoming smiles.
“Your founder wanted this place to be recognized as the city of charity,” the Pope noted, invoking the legacy of Don Orione, the revered Italian priest who established the religious congregation behind the global network of Cottolengo homes.
The pontiff extended his heartfelt gratitude to all those who continuously contribute their time, resources, and emotional energy to the center, praising the extraordinary generosity and unwavering dedication of the staff and volunteers who make the daily operations possible.
Before stepping up to deliver his prepared address, Pope Leo engaged in a deeply personal and listening posture, sitting quietly as several residents took the microphone to share their individual life stories and experiences. Among them was a female resident living with cerebral palsy, who spoke candidly about the profound difficulties, barriers, and hardships she had faced throughout her life before eventually finding a stable home, safety, and community at the Cottolengo. She emotionally described the institution as “a beacon of light” in her life. Moved by her testimony, the Pope thanked her personally and offered her a blessed rosary as a tangible token of his affection and pastoral care.
The emotional morning ceremony was further enriched by cultural and artistic performances. Acclaimed Argentine singer Abel Pintos took to the stage to perform his well-known song “La llave” (The key). He was accompanied in his performance by a special choir composed entirely of residents living at the institution, creating a moment of shared artistic expression that united the visitors and the resident community.
Concluding his message at the Claypole facility, Pope Leo issued a broader spiritual appeal, calling for the emergence of a new generation of individuals wholly devoted to the works of charity. In his concluding remarks, he drew inspiration from the legacy of his immediate predecessor, the Argentine-born Pope Francis, who had frequently urged all people to actively pursue holiness through everyday love, humility, and the faithful fulfillment of the ordinary responsibilities of their daily lives.
