Córdoba convent prepares 400,000 hosts for Pope Leo XIV visit

Religious sisters from the Congregation of the Daughters of Saint Joseph in Córdoba, Argentina, are preparing for the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV, scheduled for November 8. The community is working to produce 400,000 hosts for the massive papal masses.

The production process is artisanal, using only wheat flour and water without additives, salt, or yeast. The sisters follow a strict routine that includes mixing the dough, cooking it on specialized plates for one minute, and manual quality control to remove broken or burnt pieces. To ensure visibility during the consecration, a larger host featuring an engraved crucifix will be produced for the Pontiff.

In addition to the standard production, the congregation is maintaining a separate line for celiac-friendly hosts using dedicated machinery to prevent cross-contamination. The sisters are balancing this exceptional order with their daily duties of supplying local parishes, bookstores, and chapels.