Pope Leo XIV has delivered a stinging critique of Argentine president Javier Milei’s harsh austerity measures, insisting growth must benefit all in a speech met with rapturous applause in Buenos Aires.

“The economy must be at the service of the people, rather than people being at the service of the economy,” he said on Sunday, shortly after landing in Argentina on the second leg of a Latin America tour.

Leo stressed the plight of those who, “despite hard work, nonetheless struggle to meet their household’s needs”.

He spoke out in defence of the poor and pensioners, insisting that “particular concern be shown for those affected by illness, dependency and disability” – a veiled reference to the government’s controversial cuts to disability assistance.

He also told Milei, known for his foul-mouthed diatribes, that strengthening democracy required a “willingness to listen” and the “careful use of words”.

Leo, 71, is on an ambitious 12-day tour of the continent, just three weeks after undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

The visit is the first by a pontiff to Argentina in nearly four decades, and Leo was met with calls to help mend deep divisions in the country after three years of austerity under Milei.

Argentina is the home country of the late pope, Francis, who Milei famously insulted for his pro-poor teachings.

Leo said he was “retracing” Francis’s steps.

Argentines are hoping the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics will help unite the country, which is bitterly divided between supporters and opponents of Milei.

“Just like the World Cup unites us, hopefully the pope will too,” said Liliana Deblauwe, a 68-year-old retired teacher who waited with hundreds of people to see the pope visit a monument to liberation hero Jose de San Martin.

Hundreds more chanting “Papa Leon” (Spanish for Leo) gathered outside the presidential palace, where he was hosted by Milei.

Brian Inacio Rodriguez, a 26-year-old job seeker, spent five days travelling overland from Ushuaia, at the very tip of South America, to see the pontiff.

He said he hoped he brought “much peace to Argentina”.

Leo arrived in Buenos Aires from Uruguay, where he began his first trip as pope to Latin America, the world’s most Catholic continent which is becoming increasingly secular.

In Uruguay, he condemned drug violence and urged an end to child poverty.

In Buenos Aires, he insisted on the importance of “personal integrity” in public office, stressing that “corruption undermines the confidence of citizens in their institutions.”

The Argentine stage of his visit aims to boost the flagging faith of a country left disappointed by Francis’s failure to visit during his papacy.

It will also act as a litmus test of support for the church. In a recent University of Buenos Aires poll, 57.7% of people identified as Catholic, down from about 90% in the 1960s.

Leo will visit a home for disabled people and a prison and celebrate three open-air masses.

The church has said it expects 7 million to attend the various events.

Milei came to office on a promise to revive Argentina’s ailing economy and tame runaway inflation by shrinking the welfare state, targeting public hospitals, universities and pensioners in particular.

The poverty rate has swung wildly since he came to power – increasing to 32.3% in September.

A close ally of US president Donald Trump, with a similar combative style, Milei had a tense relationship with Francis.

On the campaign trail the cost-cutting economist called his countryman an “imbecile” for championing social justice.

Once in office, however, he softened his tone, but he continues to heap insults on the press and opposition.

His relationship with Leo has so far been cordial, but the local Catholic church has heavily criticised him for treating key social services solely as a budgetary constraint.

Milei has also been criticised for restricting several democratic freedoms, including the right to protest. But he maintains a loyal supporter base for drastically reducing inflation.