Pope Leo XIV visit: Argentina considers 9 de Julio Avenue for youth event

The Argentine Episcopal Conference is considering using Buenos Aires' 9 de Julio Avenue as the venue for a massive youth gathering during Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit to Argentina from November 8 to 11.

During a meeting at the Vatican, Archbishop Marcelo Colombo and Auxiliary Bishop Raúl Pizarro presented the proposal to the Pontiff. Colombo noted that the Pope expressed significant interest in meeting with young people, a theme central to his May encyclical, ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, which encourages youth to act as a ‘spark of humanity’ in the face of technological advancement and social isolation.

The plan seeks to replicate the scale of the 1987 visit by Pope John Paul II, which drew over a million people to the same location. While the avenue is a primary option due to its capacity for large crowds, officials are also evaluating other venues, such as the River Plate and San Lorenzo stadiums, though they noted that stadiums may be too restrictive for the expected turnout.