Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva warns of a 'wounded Argentina' at Our Lady of Luján shrine

Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva of Buenos Aires called for national unity and reconciliation during a Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján on Oct. 4. Speaking to pilgrims at the conclusion of an annual archdiocesan pilgrimage, the archbishop described Argentina as a wounded and deeply divided nation. He urged the people to seek forgiveness, solidarity, and reconciliation to heal social tensions and political polarization.

The archbishop warned that wounds caused by intolerance and violence were festering within the country. He told the crowd that the Argentine people required deep, soulful embraces to overcome disparagement and indifference. The pilgrimage, which the Buenos Aires state government estimated drew 2.7 million people in 2026, included many participants who walked approximately 37 miles from the St. Cajetan shrine in Buenos Aires to Luján.

The archbishop's message comes ahead of a four-day visit by Pope Leo XIV, scheduled to begin in Argentina on Nov. 8. This trip marks the pope's first visit to Latin America during his pontificate.