Pope Leo XIV’s third day in Argentina

On his third day in Argentina, the second leg of his Apostolic Journey to South America, Pope Leo XIV visits the city of Córdoba where he celebrated Mass and met with the local clergy and pastoral workers, before ending the day with a prayer vigil with young people back in Buenos Aires.

On his third day in Argentina, on Tuesday, November 10, Pope Leo XIV travelled to the central city of Córdoba, where he celebrated Mass and met with the local Church, before returning to the capital Buenos Aires and closing the day with a prayer vigil with young people.

Throughout the day he offered words of encouragement for Church members and its faithful, urging them to stay united to Christ and proclaim his Gospel to all, and recalled the many holy men and women that have come from this nation.

Go forth and evangelize

The Pope left Buenos Aires shortly before 8:00 A.M. local time on Tuesday morning and landed in Córdoba around an hour later.

He then celebrated Mass, on the feast of his namesake, Pope St. Leo the Great, on the grounds of the Military Aviation School. In his homily he recalled Argentina’s many saints and blesseds, especially those who flourished in and around Córdoba, who can be an example for the Church and its faithful.

“It is, then, a joyful duty to fulfill the mission that the Lord entrusts to each of us. Yes, dear brothers and sisters, we are all called to holiness. This is our task here on earth: to attain perfect union with God,” the Pope said.

“Open your hearts and by the grace of God, go forth ad be saints… Go forth and evangelize!”

Following the Mass, the Pope also greeted the thousands of people who gathered outside the Archbishop’s Residence and in off-the-cuff remarks urged Argentinians to thank God for the gift of being united, encouraging everyone to remain so.

Dream of a Church that continues to make noise

Pope Leo then met with bishops, priests, deacons, religious, seminarians and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Córdoba and invited them to return to the source of their vocation and renew their relationship with Christ.

“Dare to look at Argentina through the eyes of God!  Dream of young people asking themselves if Christ is calling them; of parishes that are vibrant communities of faith; of religious families that have the boldness of their founders; of seminaries and novitiates where saints are formed.  Dream of a Church that continues to make noise, just as your fellow countryman Francis asked you to,” he said.

Do not allow anyone to take away the freedom God has given you

The Pope then left Córdoba in the afternoon and landed back in the capital Buenos Aires just after 6:00 P.M. local time.

He closed the day with a prayer vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles with around 1 million young people, where he encouraged them to give their lives to Christ, as it is never too late to respond to God’s call to holiness, and reminded them they have a home in the Church.

“Do not bow down before anything that cannot give you life. And if you have ever fallen, get back up.  Do not allow anything or anyone to take away the freedom God has given you.” he said.

“Whoever you are and whatever you may have done, Jesus Christ knows you, Jesus Christ loves you, and wants you to be close to Him.”

Vatican News
Source: vaticannews.va/en