Pope Leo XIV draws over 2.5 million to open‑air Mass in Buenos Aires
Pope Leo XIV held an open‑air Mass in Buenos Aires attended by over 2.5 million people during his South America tour through November 17.
Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open‑air Mass in Buenos Aires today that drew more than 2.5 million people, the Vatican said. The gathering — one of the largest public religious events in recent years — filled a vast area of the Argentine capital.
Tour and recent health history
Before the Mass, Pope Leo XIV visited a care centre for people with disabilities in the southern suburbs of Buenos Aires, where he was also welcomed by thousands. The visit was part of a visit to Argentina that follows a stop in Uruguay; the pope arrived in Argentina yesterday and is scheduled to travel to Peru on Wednesday.
The pope is on a South America tour that runs until November 17 and includes as many as 50 events across three countries. The trip comes less than a month after an operation for lung cancer.
Organisers said the turnout exceeded previous large papal gatherings; the prior biggest crowd mentioned in recent months was in June, when roughly 1.2 million people took to the streets in Madrid to greet the pope.
The Mass in Buenos Aires was reported as a defining moment of the current tour and a significant public show of support amid the pope's recovery and packed schedule.
Photo: press material from the event
