Pope Leo XIV draws 2.5 million to Mass in Argentina

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his largest-ever mass in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires on Monday drawing a record 2.5 million people.

During his homily, the pontiff urged the faithful to share the Christian message openly with their children.

This as he earlier visited an institution housing disabled residents that was affected by President Javier Milei's austerity measures.

A sea of faithful waving the flags of Argentina, the Holy See as well as a number of Latin American countries welcomed Pope Leo XIV as he made his way to celebrate his largest mass at the capital's Monumento de los Espanoles.

During his sermon, the pope urged families to open their doors to Jesus Christ and to speak openly about Him with their children.

Prior to the mass, the pontiff made a pilgrimage to the Cottolengo Don Orione -- an institution founded by an Italian priest in 1935 housing some 400 people with disabilities.

Owing to austerity measures adopted by Argentine President Javier Milei, the centre, known as "the city of charity", has been particularly affected with its healthcare and social services having been dealt a serious blow.

Speaking to the local community, the pope emphasised that residents of the institution are a blessing and not a burden to society.

This as Argentina's Congress overrode Milei's veto last year to pass a law increasing funding for disability care, but its implementation had been resisted by the administration citing concerns of the nation's fiscal balance being undermined.

Later in the day, the pope visited the capital's Metropolitan Cathedral with cheering crowds lining the streets waving white handkerchiefs bearing his image.

Some shared their impression of the first American pontiff.

This man hailed Pope Leo's encyclical Magnificas Humanitas, in which the pontiff urged the global community to remain cautious in the use of AI.

While this woman highlighted the long history of popes offering signs of light and peace to the Argentine people, recalling Pope John Paul II's visit when the country was embroiled in the Falklands War with the UK.