Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva urged Argentina to prioritize the poor and end social cruelty during a Tedeum mass in Buenos Aires [1].
The address marks a rare and direct ecclesiastical critique of the current administration's social climate. By calling for national unity in the face of extreme polarization, the archbishop is signaling a tension between the Catholic Church's social doctrine and the government's current policy trajectory.
The service took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral to commemorate the 208th anniversary of the city of Buenos Aires [2]. During the event, García Cuerva said there is a "social dismemberment" affecting the nation [1]. He specifically targeted the rise of "network terrorism" and the deep political divisions characterizing the presidency of Javier Milei [3].
In a direct appeal to the national spirit, García Cuerva said, "Argentina, take up your stretcher. Do not forget your history, the moments when it seemed you could not move forward" [4]. This metaphor served as a call for the country to heal from its internal fractures through dialogue, and mutual support.
The archbishop also addressed the treatment of the most vulnerable citizens. He said, "Enough cruelty, nobody is superfluous here" [5]. He exhorted the nation to maintain a commitment to those who have been excluded from the social, and economic fabric [2].
Throughout the homily, the archbishop emphasized that the path forward requires an active commitment to the marginalized. He said that no citizen should be left behind in the pursuit of national progress — a stance that contrasts with the austerity measures and rhetoric associated with the current leadership [3].
“"Argentina, take up your stretcher."”
The Archbishop's remarks highlight a growing friction between the Argentine Catholic Church and the government of Javier Milei. By framing the current social state as one of 'cruelty' and 'dismemberment,' the Church is positioning itself as a moral check against the government's aggressive economic reforms and the accompanying social polarization.
