Argentine universities deliver report to Pope Leo XIV

Franco Bartolacci, president of the National Interuniversity Council (CIN), met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to deliver a formal three-page report regarding the critical situation of Argentina's public universities. The document, presented ahead of the Pope's planned visit to Argentina, criticizes the national government for failing to comply with the University Financing Law (No. 27.795) and for disregarding judicial rulings that mandate its implementation.

The report highlights a significant decline in funding, noting that resources allocated to national universities dropped from an average of 0.74% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2016 and 2023 to a projected 0.47% in 2026. This reduction is described as the lowest historical level of investment in the Argentine university system.

University authorities warned that these budgetary constraints directly threaten scientific research, technological updates, academic extension activities, and the ability of students to complete their degrees. Furthermore, the CIN stated that the executive branch's refusal to follow legislative and judicial decisions undermines the rule of law and the country's social contract.