Mass Before 650,000 in Córdoba
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass before 650,000 faithful gathered on the tarmac of the military aviation school in Córdoba, according to Corriere della Sera.
The pontiff, who arrived in the central Argentine city on the morning of November 10, 2026, emphasized that those suffering from poverty require individuals who express the power of Christian love through their lives.
He cited the example of the “Cura Brochero,” a 19th-century saint known for his mission among the sick, and urged the faithful to look upon an image of the “poor Christ” commissioned by the saint from his own sickbed.
The pontiff flew to central Argentina for the massive gathering. Córdoba, a colonial city, holds historical significance as the site where Jesuits founded Argentina’s oldest university in 1613, followed two years later by the Manzana Jesuítica, a block of ancient buildings now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Honoring Predecessor Bergoglio
The visit connects the history of the first American Pope with his predecessor, as Robert Prevost’s twelve-day Latin America tour includes stops at locations from Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s past.
Bergoglio arrived in Córdoba by bus in 1958 for a two-year novitiate, later returning in the early 1990s for what he termed a dark night of internal crisis. During this 22-month period from 1990 to 1992, he served as a spiritual director and confessor after being removed from his teaching position without notice.
Pope Leo XIV encourages clergy to use technology
Meeting with clergy and religious figures on the steps of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the Pope encouraged the local Church to continue to “make noise,” as Vatican News reported. He urged the faithful to seek new ways to preach and described using technology to witness the faith as a “wonderful” idea.
Drawing on his recent hospital recovery, Leo XIV told the assembly that neither age nor physical limits should extinguish apostolic zeal. ANSA noted his call for the community to dream of vibrant parishes and seminaries that form saints. During the meeting, he also highlighted the history of San Héctor Valdivielso, the first saint born in the local Church, who was executed at 23 during the 1934 Revolution of the Asturies.
How many people attended the Mass in Córdoba?
How many people attended the Mass in Córdoba?
An estimated 650,000 faithful attended the outdoor Mass held on the tarmac of the military aviation school, according to Corriere della Sera.
What was the significance of Córdoba in Pope Francis’s life?
Corriere della Sera reported that Córdoba was the site of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s 1958 novitiate and his 22-month period of spiritual exile from 1990 to 1992.
What did Leo XIV say about using modern tools for ministry?
Vatican News reported that the Pope called the idea of using technology to witness the faith “wonderful” and encouraged clergy to be creative in finding new ways to preach. He recommended a return to the Eucharist and personal communion with the Lord while urging followers to remain “witnesses persevering in the midst of suffering.”