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Pope Leo draws million-strong crowd at Argentine vigil, urges youth not to chase clicks

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In short

Addressing massive crowds on Avenida del Libertador, the pontiff cautioned younger generations against pursuing modern idols like wealth, physical appearance, and online popularity through humiliation. The nighttime vigil concluded a busy series of services, following an outdoor Mass in Cordoba that drew 650,000 attendees and a Monday gathering of 2.5 million in Buenos Aires. Concurrently, the pope confronted President Javier Milei's austerity program, urging the administration to shield vulnerable citizens from spending reductions.

Key points

  • The Vatican is attempting to reverse declining Catholic affiliation across South America…: The Vatican is attempting to reverse declining Catholic affiliation across South America amid significant gains by competing evangelical denominations.
  • Church officials remain publicly concerned about the societal fallout and reduction of es…: Church officials remain publicly concerned about the societal fallout and reduction of essential social services caused by federal austerity initiatives.
  • The 12-day foreign tour covers three South American nations and represents one of the mos…: The 12-day foreign tour covers three South American nations and represents one of the most demanding papal itineraries arranged in decades.

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BUENOS AIRES: Pope Leo drew a crowd of a million on Tuesday (Nov 11) for the third strong turnout of his 12-day South America tour, as he urged young people at a nighttime vigil in Argentina not to be consumed by the pursuit of money or social media popularity.

Throngs stretched for miles down the Avenida del Libertador, one of Buenos Aires' main boulevards. Many waved cell phones, screens shining in the black night, as Leo was driven slowly through the crowd in an open-air popemobile.

Chants of "This is the pope's youth!" rang out as the vehicle stopped frequently so security officials could bring forward babies for Leo to bless.

In a speech, the pope warned young people against worship of modern-day "idols" such as success or physical appearance, and lamented that some youth "go so far as to lie, betray or humiliate someone on social media".

"Do not bow down before anything that cannot give you life," he said.

Leo, on an ambitious three-country tour through Nov 17, led the vigil after returning from a day trip to…

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