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Pope Leo XIV Recalls Argentine Saints During Mass in Córdoba

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In Short: Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in Córdoba, Argentina, recalling the examples of saints José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero and María Antonia de Paz Figueroa, emphasizing the importance of evangelization and service.

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

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass outside an aircraft manufacturing facility in Córdoba, Argentina, on Nov. 10, recalling the examples of saints José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero and María Antonia de Paz Figueroa, known as Mama Antula. The pope highlighted their dedication to spreading the Gospel and serving the poor in challenging circumstances.

During the Mass, Pope Leo spoke of the saints' extraordinary evangelizing work, noting that they were called by the Lord and sent on mission without realizing the impact of their actions. He emphasized that all Christians are humble servants tasked with fulfilling their duties.

Pope Leo XIV praised Mama Antula for her ability to combine contemplation with service to her neighbors, recognizing that the greatest act of fraternal charity is to bring others closer to God. He also cited Brochero, known as the 'gaucho priest,' who traveled the Andean foothills on mule to evangelize and serve Catholic populations in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The pope's homily focused on the importance of holiness and the task of attaining perfect union with God. He said, 'Only those who have experienced friendship with Jesus Christ are capable of undertaking the task of evangelisation.'

Following the Mass, Pope Leo was scheduled to meet with 20 individuals chosen by the Archdiocese of Córdoba's vicariate for the poor. The city is home to the Manzana Jesuítica, founded by the Society of Jesus in 1599, where Pope Francis spent two years in the early 1990s as a Jesuit priest.

Later in the day, Pope Leo addressed priests, religious, and seminarians outside the cathedral in Córdoba. He urged Argentines to embrace their missionary calling, pointing to the witness of Argentina’s saints as models of evangelization and service.

Father Kevin Córdoba, a priest from southern Chabut province, who attended the Mass in Córdoba, told OSV News, 'Leo comes to renew our missionary calling, our baptismal vocation.'

Gigantic crowds turned out for Pope Leo’s visit to Argentina, the second stop on a three-country apostolic trip to South America that began Nov. 6 in Uruguay.

Background

What's confirmed

• 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."
• After Mass, the pope was expected to meet with 20 individuals chosen by the Archdiocese of Córdoba's vicariate for the poor, according to local media.
• Leo also cited other examples important for Argentine Catholics, telling the estimated 650,000 people attending Mass in Córdoba, "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."
• The city is home to the Manzana Jesuítica — the Jesuit Block — which was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1599, where Pope Francis spent two years in the early 1990s living in an austere room as a Jesuit priest during a time of prayer and reflection.
• “We are all called to holiness. This is our task here on earth: to attain perfect union with God,” the pope continued.
• Celebrating Mass before an estimated 650,000 people outside an aircraft manufacturing facility, the pope highlighted St José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero and St María Antonia de Paz Figueroa, known as Mama Antula, praising their dedication to spreading the Gospel in challenging circumstances.
• “This priest was truly in love with the Lord and knew how to draw strength for his life from prayer,” Pope Leo said in his homily.
• Pope Leo celebrated Mass in front of a large cross commissioned by Father Brochero, while he was lying on his sickbed after contracting leprosy while working to tend to the ill and forgotten.
• “Leo comes to renew our missionary calling, our baptismal vocation,” Father Kevin Córdoba, a priest from southern Chabut province, who attended the Mass in Córdoba, told OSV News.
• Gigantic crowds turned out for Pope Leo’s visit to Argentina, the second stop on a three-country apostolic trip to South America that began Nov. 6 in Uruguay.
• Argentina — November 10, 2026 Share on Bluesky Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email to a friend Print Pope Leo XIV traveled to Córdoba in central Argentina, where he recalled the example of Argentina's saints — who spread the Gospel and tirelessly served peoples in a rugged frontier — while emphasizing the enduring importance of missions.

What's still developing

• Following this same inspiration, Mama Antula tirelessly traveled the length and breadth of this country to show countless people the path to heaven.” Pope Leo also cited other examples important for Argentine Catholics, telling the estimated 650,00 people attending Mass in Córdoba, “These saints and blesseds have already fulfilled their mission on earth.
• Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives to celebrate Mass on the grounds of the Military Aviation School in Córdoba, Argentina, Nov.

Sources

• National Catholic Reporterlink
• OSV Newslink
• The Catholic Weeklylink
• Thecatholictelegraphlink
• WarpBeat — background on 10 saints from Uruguay, Argentina and Peru to get to know ahead of Pope Leo’s trip link
• EWTN News — video link
• EWTN News — video link
• Vatican News - English — video link
• WPLG Local 10 — video link
• ROME REPORTS in English — video link
• EWTN News — video link