Pope Leo XIV meets religious leaders in Buenos Aires

Pope Leo XIV held an interreligious meeting at San Martín Palace in Buenos Aires on 9 November 2026, beginning shortly after 5:30 p.m. under a strong security operation. Around one hundred leaders of accredited religious confessions and traditions attended, along with representatives of indigenous peoples and provincial secretaries of worship.

The meeting followed an earlier session with the world of work at the Argentine Catholic University and a private audience with five victims of clerical sexual abuse. In his speech, the Pope described Argentine identity as a melting pot of races, cultures and religions shaped by indigenous peoples and immigrants over the centuries.

“Religions are guardians of human dignity, expressions of our freedom and places to cultivate hope.”

He said these groups learned to work together, form families and communities, and build colonies and villages in admirable symbiosis with local traditions. According to the Pope, religions never became a reason for division but served as meeting points and commitments to society.

Leo XIV defined religions as guardians of human dignity, expressions of freedom and places to cultivate hope. He stressed union, justice, health and peace in opposition to violence, divisions and armed conflicts, proposing peace as the shared commitment for religious representatives.

A candle was lit by a member of the Commission and a minute of silence was observed for peace. The Pope referenced the dialogue and friendship pillars developed by his predecessor Pope Francis and cited John Paul II’s 1987 homily at Paraná Airport.