Pope Leo XIV is urging Argentines to follow the examples of some of the country's best-known saints
CÓRDOBA, Argentina -- CÓRDOBA, Argentina (AP) — Pope Leo XIV urged Argentines on Tuesday to follow the holy example of the country's best-known saints as he drew an estimated 650,000 people to the central city of Córdoba for Mass, a day after an estimated 2.5 million turned out in the capital.
Faithful from all over Argentina drove hours to be on hand for the Mass, from the farthest north of the country to Patagonia in the south and points in between. After nearly 40 years without a papal visit, Córdoba was chosen to host Leo because of its central location.
Erika Viñales, 39, and Elena Llanquenao, 54, religious education teachers from Santa Cruz province in southern Argentina’s Patagonia region, said that they traveled 2,000 kilometers (more than 1,200 miles) to be on hand.
Pablo González, a 44-year-old plumber, traveled from Tucuman province in northern Argentina.
“I never imagined the pope would come to Argentina and that I’d come to see him,” he said.
The Mass follows Leo's first liturgy, which was held on Monday in the capital, Buenos Aires, and drew an estimated 2.5 million people. It was the largest turnout for any of Leo’s foreign Masses to date.
