Hundreds of thousands of people from across Argentina and neighboring countries gathered in Córdoba on Tuesday to welcome Pope Leo XIV. The pontiff celebrated a large Mass at the Argentine Aircraft Factory (FAdeA) after a night of vigil, music and prayer. According to an official report released by provincial authorities and reported by the Cordobés outlet Cadena 3, more than 250,000 people spent the night at FAdeA. Local officials estimate that the total number of attendees could reach 800,000 at the site and exceed one million in the city as a whole. Córdoba, located about 700 km northwest of Buenos Aires, prepared for one of the largest congregations of the papal visit. Pope Leo XIV departed from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires at 7:40 a.m. local time (10:40 GMT) and was scheduled to land at Córdoba International Airport at 9:00 a.m. (12:00 GMT). From there he was to travel to the Military Aviation School grounds to preside over the Mass at 10:00 a.m. (13:00 GMT). Security for the event included 11,500 police officers, 750 firefighters and 470 members of the Technical Team for Catastrophe Action (ETAC). They were deployed across the provincial capital for checkpoints, surveillance and territorial presence. Since Monday evening, pilgrims from all Argentine provinces and from Paraguay and Venezuela have taken part in a vigil that featured performances by popular artists, prayer spaces and a drone display projecting messages of inclusion and unity, including the phrase “Nadie sobra” (“No one is left out”). After the Mass, the Pope will travel through parts of the city in the papamóvil to greet the faithful along the route. He will then meet with bishops, priests, religious, nuns and seminarians at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption.
Article source: El Nuevo Diario | Image credit: El Nuevo Diario