‘Your lives are not a burden; they are a blessing,’ Pope tells disabled people

Pope Leo XIV visited the Pequeo Cottolengo Don Orione, a residential home for people with disabilities, particularly intellectual disabilities, in Claypole, Buenos Aires province, on Monday.

The visit was the first item on the Pope’s agenda on his second day in the country after arriving on Sunday afternoon.

Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof welcomed the pontiff upon his arrival at the Cottolengo, accompanied by provincial and municipal officials and representatives of the institution. 

Leo is now expected to celebrate a massive outdoor Mass at the Monument to the Spaniards in Buenos Aires City, where hundreds of thousands of people have already gathered, with millions expected.

‘A blessing, not a burden’ Addressing residents, staff members, and volunteers at the institution, which houses around 400 people with disabilities, Leo delivered one of the strongest messages of his visit.

“I want to affirm today that your lives are not a burden for society; they are a blessing, because you can help us remember the foundation of every human being’s dignity and what is truly important in life,” he said.

He went on to argue that a country’s progress should not be measured solely in economic terms.

“A nations progress is also measured by how well it welcomes all people with disabilities and special needs,” he said.

The Pope urged Argentina to undertake “great works of charity” and called for a society in which “the love of Christ triumphs over individualism and exclusion.”

His remarks came as people with disabilities and their caregivers have been among the sectors hardest hit by spending cuts under President Javier Milei’s government.

A community of open doors Leo praised the work of the Cottolengo, describing it as a community where charity could be seen not only in its work but also in everyday gestures and smiles.

“Your founder wanted this place to be recognized as the city of charity,” he said, referring to Don Orione, the Italian priest who founded the religious order behind the institution.

He also thanked those who contribute to the center, praising their generosity and dedication.

Before delivering his speech, the Pope listened to residents share their personal stories. One woman spoke about living with cerebral palsy, the difficulties she had faced throughout her life, and how she had finally found a home at the Cottolengo, which she described as “a beacon of light.”

Leo thanked her and gave her a rosary.

The ceremony also featured Argentine singer Abel Pintos, who performed his song “La llave” (The key) alongside a choir made up of residents.

The Pope ended his message with a call for a new generation of people devoted to charity, recalling the words of his predecessor, Argentine Pope Francis, who had urged everyone to pursue holiness through love and the everyday responsibilities of their lives.

With information from mbito

Cover image: Pope Leo at Cottolengo. Credit: Vatican News