Pope Leo visited a care centre for people with disabilities on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires on Monday (November 9), where thousands had also gathered in the hope of seeing him.

He met Buenos Aires province’s governor, Axel Kicillof, and greeted the crowds.

People with disabilities addressed the pope and described their experiences during a ceremony at the centre.

Leo said during the ceremony: “The progress of a nation is also measured by the welcome it knows how to extend to all persons with disabilities and special needs.”

Jorge Silanes, religious director of the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione center welcoming Leo, said the visit carried added significance because Milei's spending cuts have reduced disability benefits while poverty in Argentina remains widespread.

Leo, 71, is on an ambitious 50-event, three-country tour less than a month after undergoing lung cancer surgery. He visited Uruguay before arriving in Argentina on Sunday (November 8) and will travel on to Peru on Wednesday (November 11) before leaving the region on November 17.

A pope has not visited majority-Catholic Argentina since 1987.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. POPE LEO RIDING IN POPEMOBILE

2. CROWDS LINING THE ROAD, WAVING FLAGS AND FILMING ON PHONES

3. VARIOUS OF POPE ARRIVING IN POPEMOBILE AT CENTRE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

4. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO GREETING OFFICIALS INCLUDING BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE GOVERNOR, AXEL KICILLOF, AND EXCHANGING GIFTS

5. AERIAL VIEW OF CENTRE

6. POPE LEO GREETING PEOPLE FROM THE CENTRE

7. POPE LEO WALKING INTO CENTRE, UNVEILING PLAQUE

8. UNVEILED PLAQUE READING (Spanish): "Everyone welcome"

9. POPE SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE AS HE WALKS INTO CENTRE

10. VARIOUS OF POPE WALKING ON STAGE AND SITTING DOWN

11. POPE LEO LISTENING

12. RESIDENT WITH CEREBRAL PALSY, MARTA TORRES

13. POPE LEO LISTENING

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT WITH CEREBRAL PALSY, MARTA TORRES, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT)

“My mum abandoned me one day ahead of my birthday, she left my house, and never came back.”

15. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO SPEAKING TO TORRES AND GIVING HER GIFTS

16. POPE LEO STANDING ON STAGE

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POPE LEO SAYING: (PARTIALLY OVERLAID WITH SHOT OF CLERGY LISTENING)

“The values of dignity, integration, and fraternal friendship that distinguish common places have a lot to say to our societies. Often they are the pursuit of economic success or the cult of physical appearance. I would like to affirm that your lives are not a burden on society - they are a blessing because you can help us not to forget what the foundation of the dignity of every human being is and what is really important in life. The progress of a nation is also measured by the welcome it knows how to extend to all persons with disabilities and special needs.”

18. VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE APPLAUDING AFTER POPE LEO'S SPEECH

19. PRIEST DRAPING RELIGIOUS STOLE AROUND POPE LEO'S NECK

20. POPE LEO WALKING OUT OF CENTRE SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE