Trees are being planted in the garden of the Cottolengo Don Orione, a Catholic-run home for people with disabilities in Claypole, Argentina. The buildings are receiving fresh coats of paint. The choir rehearses, and hundreds of residents, some in wheelchairs, practise their places outside the sanctuary. The date is Monday, 9 November, and the excitement is for Pope Leo XIV’s visit.
The home shelters about 400 residents with disabilities. The timing of the pope’s visit arrives amid wide-ranging cuts to disability funding by Argentina’s president, Javier Milei. Milei, who has openly opposed many of Pope Leo’s positions, once called the pope’s predecessor the “representative of the Evil One.” The strained relationship between the Vatican and Milei’s government adds tension to the visit.
The pope’s stop in Claypole is the first engagement of his full day in Argentina. His schedule reflects a focus on vulnerable communities, with the disability home selected for its direct service to people affected by recent policy changes. The president’s cuts have affected various social programs, and disability services are among the hardest hit.
Inside the home, the atmosphere contrasts with the political climate. Staff and residents prepare for the visit with visible energy. The choir’s practice is loud enough to be heard across the grounds. Volunteers coordinate the placement of wheelchairs and seating for the day’s events.
The pope’s visit will include a mass in the sanctuary and time spent meeting residents and caregivers. While no official statements have been released about how the pope intends to address the funding cuts, his presence sends a message to the community.
President Milei’s government has made wide-ranging budget reductions this year. Disability services saw significant decreases in funding, affecting the operation of homes like Cottolengo Don Orione. The home relies on a combination of church resources and government support to care for its residents.
Milei’s opposition to the Vatican has surfaced in public statements. His description of Pope Francis’s predecessor as the “representative of the Evil One” remains a sharp critique, underscoring ideological divides. Pope Leo XIV’s visit unfolds against this backdrop.
The visit also comes as Argentina faces broader political and economic challenges. Inflation and austerity measures have strained public services. Social programs, including those for disabled people, have been curtailed, making support from religious and private groups more critical.
Preparations at the home include practical improvements alongside symbolic gestures. The newly planted trees and fresh paint indicate an effort to welcome the pope in a way that respects the dignity of residents. Volunteers and staff have worked days to ready the site.
The pope’s decision to visit a disability home early in his Argentina trip offers a contrast to the government’s current stance on social welfare. Details of the visit’s speeches and interactions are awaited.
The choir’s voices echo as Pope Leo XIV arrives. Outside, the political storm continues. Inside, the residents of Cottolengo Don Orione prepare to be seen.
According to The Guardian.
