Pope Leo XIV will be in Argentina from Sunday, November 8, to Wednesday, November 11, the first papal visit since 1987. This guide covers what residents need to plan around, based on the Vatican's published program, the national decree and the Central Bank's notice. Facts were last checked on October 8.
The schedule
All times are local. On Sunday the Pope lands at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), Buenos Aires' domestic and regional airport, at 4:30 p.m., visits the San Martín monument, is received at the Casa Rosada by President Milei and speaks, with Milei, to governors, lawmakers, judges and diplomats at the Palacio Libertad at 6:30 p.m., Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva said.
On Monday he visits a care home for people with disabilities in Claypole, in Greater Buenos Aires, at 9:15 a.m., and celebrates Mass at the Monumento de los Españoles in Palermo at 11:30 a.m. Afternoon meetings with union leaders and religious leaders follow, and vespers at the Metropolitan Cathedral at 6:45 p.m.
On Tuesday he flies to Córdoba for a 10 a.m. Mass on the grounds of the Military Aviation School and a 3:15 p.m. meeting with clergy at the cathedral, then returns for a vigil with young people at the Monumento de los Españoles at 8:15 p.m. On Wednesday he visits a federal prison at 8 a.m., celebrates Mass in front of the Basilica of Luján at 10 a.m. and leaves from Ezeiza at 2 p.m. for Lima.
Holidays and banks
Monday, November 9 is a national holiday under Decree 1103/2026, published in the Official Gazette on September 28. Tuesday, November 10 is a holiday only in Córdoba province and Buenos Aires city, and Wednesday, November 11 only in Buenos Aires province, where Luján is.
The Central Bank also declared November 10 a bank holiday nationwide, so branches are closed from Friday, November 6 (Bank Workers' Day) through Tuesday and reopen Wednesday. ATMs, home banking and card payments keep working, and operations that depend on bank clearing move to the next business day.
Registering and watching
Registration is free and opens today, October 8, at noon on the Episcopal Conference's official site, elpapaenargentina.com.ar. It covers the three Masses, the clergy meeting in Córdoba and the youth gathering in Buenos Aires. The Masses are open to anyone, and the conference recommends registering for them; the clergy and youth events need an approved registration because seats are assigned. Registering does not reserve a spot. The site also lists screens where the events will be shown. Volunteers, which organizers say they still need (14,000 are signed up of 20,000 wanted), ride the SUBE public transport network free during the visit.
Roads and security
City officials say Avenida del Libertador will be closed on November 9 and 10 around the Monumento de los Españoles, with a sterile zone out to Avenida Udaondo. The city's security secretary, Maximiliano Piñeiro, said the operation will use 7,500 police officers and 1,000 firefighters, starting around October 24, and that authorities plan for up to one million people at the Palermo Mass. Because the Pope will travel by road to Claypole, traffic will be cut along that route both ways, Buenos Aires province's security minister, Javier Alonso, said.
For Luján, Alonso said visitors should leave their cars at parking lots in towns 5, 6 and 8 kilometers away and walk to the basilica, and that road cuts start on November 6.
What to watch for
City officials said they will publish street-closure maps and times, bus, subway and train changes, and the access points for the Palermo Mass in the coming weeks. The government has also said it will guarantee 75% of public transport service for people commuting between areas with and without a holiday.
