Argentina Prepares 'Largest Security Operation in Its History' for Pope Leo XIV's First Visit Since 1987

In brief

• Argentina has declared days off and plans its largest security operation for the pope's visit to Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján.
• Up to 7 million people are expected at papal events, with a Argentine poll putting the figure nearer 7.5 million.
• Argentine intelligence says a person who threatened the pope was detained less than 24 hours after the threats were identified.

Security operation and public holidays

Argentina's government has declared days off from work to coincide with the pope's visit, which covers Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján (Papież pobłogosławił domy dla rodzin w trudnej sytuacji – lublin.niedziela.pl). Officials describe the operation as the largest of its kind in the country's history, with 19,000 officers deployed in the capital alone and 120 emergency medical responders assigned in Buenos Aires (Argentyna: Zatrzymano osobę, która groziła papieżowi śmiercią – lublin.niedziela.pl). The operation covers three jurisdictions, three airports and 11 closed events alongside three mass public gatherings (Historyczna wizyta Leona XIV w Urugwaju. To pierwszy etap podróży – tvn24.pl).

Expected crowds

Estimates for attendance at papal events reach up to 7 million people across the three cities (Papież udał się w podróż apostolską do Ameryki Łacińskiej – Onet). A poll cited in Argentine media puts the figure closer to 7.5 million (Popiežius Leonas XIV išvyko į 12 dienų kelionę po Pietų Ameriką – LRT). Demand for accommodation has surged, with interest in lodging in Córdoba and Luján reportedly up 400 to 500 percent (Jan Paweł II był tam pierwszy, teraz czas na Leona XIV. Wyjątkowa wyprawa papieża – Polsat News). Organisers say interest is not limited to Catholics.

Arrest linked to threats

Argentina's SIDE intelligence agency said on Saturday evening that a person who had issued death threats against the pope had been detained (Odwiedzi 3 kraje w 11 dni. Leon XIV ruszył w wyjątkową podróż – RMF24). The agency said information passed to the federal anti-terrorism unit made the arrest possible, and that the detention took place less than 24 hours after the threats were identified. The suspect has not been named, and the agency has not released details of the threats (Dni wolne od pracy, tłumy służb na ulicach. Argentyna szykuje się na wizytę Leona XIV – Interia Wydarzenia).

Context of the trip

The visit is the sixth foreign trip of the 71-year-old pontiff and the first to Argentina since John Paul II's 1987 visit, when crowds of between 2 and 3 million reportedly attended events. Leo XIV holds Argentine citizenship and underwent surgery on 13 October at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic; the Vatican says he has recovered and needs no further cancer treatment (Wobec papieża kierowano groźby śmierci. Argentyńskie służby zatrzymały osobę podejrzaną – Onet). The trip includes 14 flights covering more than 31,000 kilometres and around 40 speeches and homilies.

Schedule

The pope departed Rome on Friday morning and is due in Argentina on Sunday, with the trip covering Uruguay first before moving on (Papież w Argentynie. Władze zgodne. "Największa operacja w historii" – Wirtualna Polska). Argentina is the second stop after Uruguay, where he visited a retirement home for priests and blessed homes for needy families in Montevideo (Leon XIV dokona tego jako pierwszy papież w historii? "Największa taka operacja" – Dziennik.pl).

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