Pope Leo XIV says in Argentina that a nation is measured by how it includes people with disabilities: ‘Their lives are not a burden on society; they are a blessing’
Leo XIV also expressed his hope that thousands of young people would volunteer for charitable works and that "a new generation of saints dedicated to charity" would emerge in Argentina.
Pope Leo XIV holds two zucchetti alongside a woman with a disability at the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione.
Pope Leo XIV warned on Monday that a nation's progress is measured by the welcome it extends to people with disabilities, during a visit to the Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, in southern Greater Buenos Aires. The message, delivered before 410 residents of the home, highlights human dignity and charity as the pillars of a healthy society.
"A nation's progress is also measured by the welcome it extends to all people with disabilities and special needs," declared the 71-year-old pontiff in his address to residents, staff, and volunteers at the home. León XIV arrived in Argentina on Sunday from Uruguay, the first stop on a South American tour that will end in Peru.
"Their lives are not a burden on society; they are a blessing"
At the Cottolengo, Leo XIV defended the dignity of people with disabilities with a phrase that resonated with those in attendance: "Their lives are not a burden on society; they are a blessing, because you can help us not to forget what is the foundation of every human being's dignity and what is truly important in life." The pope also expressed his hope that Argentina would be able to carry out "great works of charity" where "the love of Christ will triumph over individualism and exclusion."
The pope praised the work of the Cottolengo, founded in 1935 by St. Luigi Orione, describing it as "a fraternal, open-door community" where charity is expressed in every gesture, face and smile. The institution, which covers about 50 hectares and is home to more than 400 people with motor, verbal, or psychosocial disabilities, was the setting chosen by the pope to convey a message of hope and fraternity.
Residents' excitement and anticipation in Palermo
According to AFP, the visit to the Cottolengo was marked by emotional moments, such as the testimony of Marta Donato, a 57-year-old resident who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and has been living at the home for 44 years. "I harbored resentment because I felt as if I had been cast aside. I didn't understand why this was happening to me … until I realized that the Cottolengo was what I needed to fill the void I felt," Donato told the pope.
Later in the day, Leo XIV will celebrate Mass in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, where thousands of people had been lining up since early morning to get in, including many families with children. Groups of the faithful arrived on buses organized by their parishes, and at some street corners, young people with guitars livened up the wait with songs and clapping. "What we need most is unity—we're so divided," said Soledad Troncoso, a 67-year-old retiree who had come from Wilde, on the southern outskirts, with her sister and several neighbors, her voice breaking as she spoke.
A call to charity as a response
Pope Leo XIV's message in Argentina is not limited to defending people with disabilities; rather, it offers a broader critique of the individualism and exclusion which, according to him, characterize modern societies. "The values of dignity, belonging, and fraternal friendship that distinguish places like this have much to say to our societies, which are often driven solely by the pursuit of economic success or the cult of outward appearances," the pontiff stated.
León XIV also expressed his hope that thousands of young people would volunteer in charitable works and that a "a new generation of saints dedicated to charity." The pope's visit, which will last through Wednesday, is leaving a profound mark on the country.
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