Church Surprised by Mayor Macri's Criticism of Homeless Aid

A video featuring Buenos Aires City Mayor Jorge Macri making critical remarks about the Church's assistance to homeless individuals has generated surprise and concern within the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires. In the resurfaced clip, Macri is heard stating that the Church's practice of offering food and shelter to those in need "only makes more come [to the city of Buenos Aires] and they become more dependent on it."

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There is a discussion that we have to have, and I have it, with the Church. The logic of giving food and shelter [to people on the street] outside – because they never let them inside the Church, they leave them outside the doors – only makes more come, and they become more dependent on it.

The video, reportedly recorded last year during a neighborhood meeting, went viral this week, prompting a response from the Archdiocese. Facundo Fernández Buils, the Archdiocese's Director of Institutional Communication, expressed surprise at Macri's statements, noting that the context of the remarks, such as the specific question that prompted them, remains unclear. Despite this, Fernández Buils emphasized that the Church maintains a "fluid, open, and constant" dialogue with the mayor and his ministers.

Macri's comments suggest a belief that the Church's charitable actions inadvertently encourage more people to come to the city and rely on aid. "There is a discussion that we have to have, and I have it, with the Church. The logic of giving food and shelter [to people on the street] outside – because they never let them inside the Church, they leave them outside the doors – only makes more come, and they become more dependent on it," Macri stated in the viral clip.

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We are surprised by this statement.

Sources from the city government confirmed the authenticity of the statement but could not precisely pinpoint the location or date of the meeting. Meanwhile, the Archdiocese detailed its extensive network of support, which includes 33 neighborhood centers and 26 shelters, assisting over 1,300 vulnerable individuals nightly. Fernández Buils clarified that their support goes beyond just meals, offering a network of accompaniment for those who may not wish to enter shelters, and providing hot meals, drinks, and a listening ear to those who remain on the streets. The city government countered by highlighting its own network of over 60 inclusion centers with more than 5,000 available beds, asserting that Buenos Aires offers the most extensive support network in the country to prevent anyone from sleeping on the streets.

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It's not just a plate of food. We have a network of people who accompany people who do not want to go to shelters; we do not encourage them to stay on the street.