In Córdoba, Pope Leo XIV received a welcome worthy of a soccer stadium, not a cathedral. He was meeting with bishops, priests, seminarians and representatives of religious life from across Argentina.
The pope praised the Church’s strong commitment to social issues, but made clear that much remains to be done.
POPE LEO XIV
The Church in Argentina has a deeply rooted sensitivity to the social needs of its people.
Hunger and injustice cannot wait. They demand a response.
Christian charity is committed to meeting those needs.
It is a mission Pope Leo wants to bring back into focus. He drew on the example of Pope Francis.
POPE LEO XIV
My beloved predecessor expressed it with particular clarity: “The Church is not a business, it is not a humanitarian agency, the Church is not an NGO. The Church is sent to bring everyone to Christ and his Gospel.”
That does not mean turning away from social assistance. The pope insisted that the Church’s mission must reach beyond it.
The gathering also brought forward personal stories of that mission in action. Among them was Father Martín, who was left with a disability after undergoing surgery.
FR. MARTÍN CARRANZA
I had to discern and decide how to go on living as a disciple of Jesus and as a priest.
An artificial intelligence app helped us turn the texts I write for my homilies into audio recordings in my own voice.
His story brought the pope back to his own recent hospitalization, reminding him that service does not have to stop when illness strikes.
POPE LEO XIV
There are other ways to bear witness: by persevering through suffering. Laura and Father Martín made me think of my recent hospitalization. They also reminded me of Saint José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, who continued serving his people despite being blind and suffering from leprosy.
And whenever Leo XIV brings up Francis in Argentina, he knows he has the home crowd with him. This time, he hit the mark by quoting one of Francis’ messages that continues to echo today.
POPE LEO XIV
Dream of a Church that keeps making a mess, as your fellow Argentine Francis asked you to do!
Pope Francis used those words to challenge young people to leave their comfort zones and take the Church into the streets. Now Pope Leo is making that same appeal to the entire Church in Argentina.
