Pope Leo’s Homily in Argentina
Esplanade of the Military Aviation School (Córdoba)
Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Gospel (Matthew 16, 13-19)
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?”
14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Pope Leo’s Homily
Dear brothers and sisters,
Peter’s profession of faith, echoed by his successors throughout history, reveals the mystery of God’s salvation through Christ.
The vital message of salvation is upheld by our brothers and sisters in the faith who accompany us from heaven today through their intercession.
It is no surprise that this land has produced many holy people.
Their examples us on this path inspire us to follow in their footsteps and give our lives as Christ gave his for us.
They faithfully imitated him, and we can do the same.
Córdoba, the natural heir to the first episcopal see established in Argentina, has indeed been a home to saints.
Its convents, churches, streets, and hospitals were filled with men and women who were devoted to Jesus and gave their lives for the Gospel.
Argentina was home to extraordinary individuals like Father Brochero and Mama Antula who were called by the Lord and sent on missions without realizing the extent of their evangelizing work.
Indeed, like all Christians, we are merely humble servants who must fulfill our duty.
(Luke 17:10 – we have only done what was our duty.’).
Therefore, it is a joyful duty to fulfill the mission that the Lord entrusts to each of us.
Yes, dear brothers and sisters, we are all called to holiness.
Our task here on earth is to achieve perfect union with God.
Furthermore, we are all called to be missionaries.
We must share with others the beauty we have found in Christ.
(contemplata aliis tradere – We must pass on to others what one has contemplated.).
As Christians, we must “teach what is consistent with sound doctrine” (Titus2:1).
For this reason, I now adopt the exhortation of Saint Leo the Great, whose liturgical memorial we celebrate today.
I entrust myself to him.
“Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God” (Sermon 1, in Nativitate Domini, PL 54, 192-193).
There is no better way to teach than by setting an example with one’s own life
After all, “the world expects a lifelong commitment and witness of prayer from us.”
(Saint John Paul II, Homily, “Vélez Sarsfield” Stadium in Buenos Aires, 10 April 1987).
This requires an unwavering and wholehearted commitment to Jesus Christ.
The saints have set this example, inspiring us to live with hope even amid difficulties.
Here in Córdoba, at the geographic heart of Argentina, we thank God today for the diverse fruits of holiness produced by the men and women whom he sent to this land — whether they were born here or spent most of their lives here.
Just as Córdoba’s mountains are renowned for their varied shapes and colors, the saints and blesseds are characterized by the different charisms and missions they received.
They bear witness to the universal call to holiness of every baptized person – the call to be conformed to Christ.
Rooted in their Argentinian identity, these saints exemplify the fusion of a passion for the Gospel and a dedication to fostering a fraternal and compassionate homeland.
They all rose to the challenges of their time, transforming them into opportunities to proclaim the Good News—not just in theory, but by shaping their lives to become credible and effective witnesses to Christ’s love.
Let us begin by honoring the memory of St. José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero with gratitude.
This priest was deeply in love with the Lord and found strength in prayer throughout his life.
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola transformed his life, shaping him into a living example of the words we prayed in the Responsorial Psalm: “Trust in the Lord and do good” (Psalm 37:3).
Only those who have experienced friendship with Jesus Christ can undertake the task of evangelization.
Only those who know they are loved by the Lord can extend His kingdom of charity and justice.
Armed with nothing but a crucifix and a rosary, they devote all their energies to proclaiming the Gospel.
Similarly inspired by Ignatian spirituality, Saint María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa—later known as Mama Antula—combined contemplation with service to her neighbors.
She believed that the greatest act of fraternal charity was bringing others closer to God. As my revered predecessor, Pope Francis, reminded us in his message for the third World Day of the Poor on June 13, 2019, the poor need God and people who demonstrate Christian love.
Inspired by this same mission, Mama Antula traveled tirelessly across the country, showing countless people the path to Heaven.
Her guiding principle was to go wherever God was unknown to make him known.
In this region where we gather today to worship him, two saints and two examples of identifying oneself with Christ were inspired by the Lord himself.Along with them, we thank God for the martyrs who confessed their faith even unto death.
Among them, we remember Saint Héctor Valdivielso Sáez and the Argentinian blesseds who suffered martyrdom during the Spanish Civil War and in the Argentine provinces of La Rioja and Salta.
We thank the Lord for providing the Church with shepherds after His own heart, such as Blessed Friar Mamerto Esquiú and Blessed Cardinal Eduardo Pironio.
We are especially grateful for consecrated life and honor the foundresses of religious congregations, including Saint Nazaria Ignacia, Blessed María del Tránsito Cabanillas, and Blessed Catalina de María Rodríguez.
We also honor the many religious women who dedicated their lives to educating children and caring for the sick, such as Blessed María Ludovica de Angelis and Blessed Crescencia Pérez.
Lastly, the faithful people of God rejoice in laypeople who received the proclamation of the Gospel and lived out their baptismal vocation to the fullest by loving God and their brothers and sisters in the simplicity of daily life.
Among them are Saint Artémides Zatti, Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, and Blessed Laura Vicuña.
Dear brothers and sisters,
These saints and blesseds have already completed their missions on earth.
Today, it is our turn to follow their radiant example of holiness.
We celebrate this Holy Mass for the sanctification of the people of Argentine and all of you.
Open your hearts and, with God’s grace, strive to be holy.
As 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from immorality.”
Strive to be holy at school, in the town square, with family and friends, in the countryside and city, on the farm, and in the office.
Go and evangelize!
The image of the Poor Christ presides over this celebration.
Father Brochero had it carved while he was on his deathbed, and the faces of the people of this land are reflected in Christ’s face.
May we be challenged by his gaze.
In the shadow of his cross, we will find salvation, life, and the path to our own sanctification.Through the intercession of Saint Leo the Great, may God bless us and grant us the grace to proclaim, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).