Vatican advance team inspects sites for Leo XIV’s Argentina visit and ends mission in country

The Vatican’s advance team has visited the places Pope Leo XIV is expected to see during his first trip to Latin America, including a 90-year-old Catholic care center and Argentina’s main Marian sanctuary.

The delegation inspected the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, a comprehensive assistance center for people with disabilities operated by the Church. It also visited the Basilica of Luján, the country’s principal shrine. Officials from the government of Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof, national authorities and Church representatives joined the tour.

The Vatican team also examined security arrangements at Ezeiza International Airport. Leo XIV is expected to use the airport on the final day of his visit before traveling to Peru. He is due to arrive in Argentina on Nov. 8 from Uruguay, landing first at the metropolitan Aeroparque airport.

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It will bring a message of unity and hope.

The delegation, led by Mexican priest José Salas Castañeda and including about 20 officials from the Secretariat of State and the Dicastery for Communication, was scheduled to leave for Uruguay to continue its on-site assessment. Meetings with national and provincial officials revived discussion of a possible public holiday across the Buenos Aires metropolitan area during the papal visit. The measure could allow pilgrims from other parts of Argentina to stay in public and private schools, but officials have not decided whether to adopt it.

Church sources said Leo XIV would bring a “message of unity and hope” to Luján Basilica. Archbishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig said the arrangements remained subject to the Holy See’s approval, with the Vatican Secretariat of State expected to give final authorization.

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Everything is subject to the Holy See’s approval.