President Javier Milei personally thanked on Tuesday the members of the security forces who participated in the historic operation organized to welcome Pope Leo XIV in Argentina, during a visit to the Unified Command of the Ministry of Security, from where the deployment aimed at ensuring the safety of the Supreme Pontiff and the millions of faithful gathered for his various activities was supervised.
"This is the largest security operation in our history. Thank you for protecting Argentinians and for being up to the task of this momentous event for our country", the president expressed to the agents responsible for the operation, whom he recognized for their commitment and the work done during the visit of the leader of the Catholic Church.
Javier Milei with Alejandra Monteoliva and Karina Milei.
The head of state was accompanied by the Secretary General of the Presidency, Karina Milei, and was received by the Minister of National Security, Alejandra Monteoliva, who provided details about the operation's functioning and the coordination among the various jurisdictions involved. The tour took place while Leo XIV was returning from Córdoba to the City of Buenos Aires to lead a massive vigil with young people at the Monument of the Spaniards, located in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo.
The magnitude of the deployment had been anticipated by Monteoliva during the official presentation of the papal agenda, when she explained that the operation would involve three jurisdictions, three airports, three cities, four mass events, and eleven closed activities. The planning also included a unified command operating continuously for 120 hours and a global attendance estimated at approximately seven million people throughout the various days of the apostolic visit.
To ensure the coordination of the operation, the national government coordinated the work of the five federal forces with the authorities of the City of Buenos Aires and the provinces of Buenos Aires and Córdoba. In addition, the provincial jurisdictions adhered to the so-called "Commitment Leo XIV", an initiative aimed at facilitating cooperation among the different administrations during the religious event. The preparation also included meetings between Argentine authorities and representatives of Vatican security.
The president spoke handsomely to all the officers.
Milei's recognition came during the final stage of the Pope's apostolic visit, which began on Sunday, November 8, and will conclude this Wednesday, November 11. The presence of Leo XIV mobilized a significant number of faithful and required special organization for the religious ceremonies, official movements, and institutional meetings planned in his agenda.
In this way, the President highlighted the work of the personnel who participated in one of the largest security deployments organized in the country, particularly emphasizing their responsibility in protecting Argentinians during an event of religious and institutional significance.
