The SIDE and the PFA of Milei arrested a man who threatened Pope Leo XIV with death

In an unprecedented display of operational capacity and professionalism, the National Government led by President Javier Milei has successfully ensured the security of the Nation by neutralizing a direct death threat against His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This decisive action reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Executive Power to security, crime prevention, and public order, ensuring that the arrival of the Pontiff in Argentina —the first by a Holy Father in 39 years since the visit of John Paul II in April 1987— takes place within a framework of state protection.

The neutralization operation was activated based on strategic information generated by the General Directorate of Operations (part of the Subsecretariat of Operations) of the Secretariat of State Intelligence (SIDE), which immediately forwarded the actions to the Department of Anti-Terrorism Investigation Unit (DUIA) of the Argentine Federal Police. In a record time of less than 24 hours from the receipt of the threat information, the forces executed the arrest of the suspect. The measure was issued by the Federal Court of First Instance of Campana, presided over by Dr. Adrián González Charvay, within the corresponding file initiated on November 7, 2026 in Buenos Aires City.

The Secretary of State Intelligence, Cristian Auguadra, highlighted the effectiveness of the operation by stating that “based on information produced by the SIDE, a person who had made death threats against His Holiness Pope Leo XIV during his visit to the country was arrested”. Furthermore, Cristian Auguadra specified that “the information was produced by the General Directorate of Operations and provided to the Department of Anti-Terrorism Investigation Unit of the Argentine Federal Police. The procedure was completed in less than 24 hours from when the threat information was obtained”.

In line with this, the Undersecretary of Intelligence, José Lago Rodríguez, praised the coordinated work by stating that “the swift resolution of the case was made possible thanks to effective coordination between the Intelligence areas, the Federal Forces, and the Justice system”. The official also emphasized: “Anticipating risks and detecting threats requires producing information and making it available to those who need to intervene. We continue to work alongside the Federal Forces to ensure that the Pope's visit proceeds normally and within a framework of security”.

With the integrity of the Pontiff safeguarded by the official security shield, the agenda of Pope Leo XIV in Argentina will take place from November 8 to 11, as part of a South American itinerary of 12 days and 10 cities that began on November 6 in Uruguay and is scheduled to conclude on November 17 in Peru. The Holy Father will arrive in the country on Sunday, November 8 at 16:30 at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery coming from Montevideo.

His official itinerary will begin with an offering at the Monument to General San Martín and the Armies of Independence in Plaza San Martín, after which he will move to the Casa Rosada for a meeting with President Javier Milei. At 18:30, he will lead an event at the Palacio Libertad before national authorities, members of the diplomatic corps, and civil society leaders, where he will deliver an official speech.

To coordinate the mobility of the event, the Executive Power enacted Decree 1103/2026, establishing Monday, November 9 as a national holiday throughout Argentine territory. On that day, activities will begin at 9:15 with a visit to the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole. At 11:30, the Pontiff will celebrate a massive mass at the Monument of the Spaniards, at the intersection of del Libertador and Sarmiento avenues in Palermo.

In the afternoon, at 16:00, he will attend a meeting at the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) in Puerto Madero with union, business, and social leaders, continuing at 17:30 with an interfaith meeting at the Palacio San Martín and concluding at 18:45 with the celebration of vespers at the Metropolitan Cathedral and a dinner with the Episcopate at the Archbishopric.

The regulatory framework of Decree 1103/2026 stipulates a holiday for Tuesday, November 10 in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and the Province of Córdoba, while Wednesday, November 11 will cover the Province of Buenos Aires. On Tuesday, November 10, the Pope will depart at 7:30 for Córdoba, landing at 9:00 at Ambrosio Taravella airport to preside over a mass at 10:00 at the Military Aviation School and at 15:00 a pastoral meeting at the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.

After returning to the capital, he will preside over a vigil with youth at 20:00 again at the Monument of the Spaniards. The official visit will conclude on Wednesday, November 11 with an activity at 8:00 at the Federal Penitentiary Complex of Buenos Aires in Villa Devoto, a mass at 10:00 in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, the formal farewell ceremony at 13:30 at Ezeiza International Airport, and his departure to Lima at 14:00.