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Pope Leo XIV Draws 650,000 to Córdoba Mass, Honors Saints

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In Short: Pope Leo XIV highlighted the city's religious heritage and honored Argentine saints St. José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero and St. María Antonia de Paz Figueroa, who were canonized by Pope Francis.

LIVE | Pope Leo XIV in Argentina | Holy Mass in Cordoba | November 10, 2026. EWTN News

Pope Leo XIV drew an estimated 650,000 people to a Mass in Córdoba, Argentina, on Tuesday, urging Argentines to follow the example of their saints and embrace their missionary calling.

During the Mass, Pope Leo XIV celebrated alongside 100 bishops and some 1,000 priests, all dressed in white, and the celebration was accompanied by music and powerful singing.

The pope's visit to Córdoba was part of a larger tour that included a previous gathering of 2.5 million people in Buenos Aires, marking the first papal Mass on Argentine soil in 39 years.

Pope Leo XIV also met privately with five people who were abused by clergy or Church institutions in Argentina, listening to their experiences for over an hour.

The pope's visit aimed to encourage young people to stand firm in their faith and to thank God for the gift of unity.

Pope Leo XIV also addressed the ethical responsibilities arising from technological advances, particularly artificial intelligence, calling for careful consideration of their consequences.

After the Mass, Pope Leo XIV was expected to meet with 20 individuals chosen by the Archdiocese of Córdoba’s vicariate for the poor.

The pope's visit to Córdoba also included a homily devoted to holiness and local saints, emphasizing the radiant example they have left for others to follow.

Background

What's confirmed

• Significantly, too, both were canonized by Pope Francis.
• By NICOLE WINFIELD, ISABEL DEBRE and ALMUDENA CALATRAVA, Associated Press BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Pope Leo XIV urged Argentines on Tuesday to follow the holy example of the country’s best-known saints as he drew an estimated 650,000 people to the central city of Córdoba for Mass and an estimated 1 million more for a nighttime vigil in the capital Buenos Aires.
• During his Apostolic Journey to Argentina, Pope Leo XIV recalls the Saints and Blesseds who helped shape the country’s spiritual heritage, as their holiness was lived in tireless service to those most in need.
• Celebrating Mass outside an aircraft manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Argentina's second-largest city on Nov. 10, Leo spoke of St. José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero and St. María Antonia de Paz Figueroa, "who were called by the Lord and sent on mission, without even realizing how extraordinary their evangelizing work would be. Indeed, we too, like all Christians, are merely humble servants, and all we must do is fulfil our duty."
• “We are all called to holiness. This is our task here on earth: to attain perfect union with God,” the pope continued.
• Overflowing crowds welcomed Pope Leo to Cordóba, an industrial city of 1.6 million residents some 430 miles northwest of Buenos Aires.
• The energy as they waited for Pope Leo could only be described as electrifying, and once the popemobile tour began, dozens of babies got their parents’ wish: a papal blessing from a man who was visibly enjoying the evening despite the marathonic day he had.
• Catholic faithful hold an Argentine flag bearing images of the late Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV as they wait for Pope Leo XIV to arrive to celebrate Mass at Parque Paris Londres in Paysandu, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov.
• During his homily before about 650,000 worshippers, according to Vatican figures, the pontiff highlighted the city's religious heritage, honored Argentine saints and urged believers to embrace the call to holiness and build a nation rooted in fraternity and solidarity.
• “Dear brothers and sisters, these saints and blesseds have already fulfilled their mission on earth. Today, it is our turn to follow the radiant example of holiness they have left with us,” Pope Leo said.
• Pope Leo XIV urged Argentines on Tuesday to follow the holy example of the country’s best-known saints, as an estimated 650,000 people gathered in the central city of Córdoba for Mass.
• Pope Leo XIV has urged Argentines to reject the “idols” of money, drugs and pornography and to model their lives on the saints.

What's still developing

• Leo, the missionary Augustinian pope, has throughout his visit recalled the Christian history and tradition of this vast country of 46 million people, 35 percent of them under the age of 25, and has sought to encourage them to put Christ at the center of their lives and follow him.
• Following the Mass, the Pope also greeted the thousands of people who gathered outside the Archbishop’s Residence and in off-the-cuff remarks urged Argentinians to thank God for the gift of being united, encouraging everyone to remain so.
• “Religions safeguard human dignity,” the Pope said to a gathering of faith leaders at the Palacio San Martín.
• Haime was referring to Jorge Bergoglio, the first Argentine and Latin American pope, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years without making an official visit to his home country.
• Recalling that Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum was the “foundational act” of modern Catholic social teaching, he said it is evident that Shaw’s writings and decisions were shaped by that text.
• Pope Leo XIV urges Argentines to emulate their saints during his landmark visit, drawing crowds unseen for decades.
• CÓRDOBA, Argentina — Pope Leo XIV said all Christians are called to be saints and hence evangelists, drawing inspiration and guidance from the Church’s canonized holy men and women.
• They stood out in the crowd, who had all bowed down at the order of King Nebuchadnezzar, said the Pope.
• She “knew how to combine contemplation with service to neighbor, recognizing that the greatest act of fraternal charity is to bring others closer to God,” Pope Leo said.

Sources

• America Magazinelink
• Boston Heraldlink
• Catholic World Reportlink
• Catholicweeklylink
• Euronews.comlink
• MercoPresslink
• Ncronlinelink
• OSV Newslink
• Temple Daily Telegramlink
• The Dialoglink
• Thecatholictelegraphlink
• newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.orglink
• trentonmonitor.comlink
• upilink
• Thecatholictelegraphlink
• Heraldmalaysialink
• EWTN News — video link
• EWTN News — video link
• Reuters — video link
• AlMamlaka English — video link
• Vatican News - English — video link
• DRM News — video link