The Mass that Leo XIV celebrated on Monday, November 9, in front of the Monument to the Spaniards, in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo, has become embroiled in controversy over the reserved section occupied by celebrities, politicians, and businesspeople, complete with its own tent, tables with food and drink, and seats close to the presbytery, while thousands of faithful waited for hours in the open air. Images of that area circulated on social media and have sparked criticism from journalists and volunteers, as well as a request for information in the Argentine Congress.
A section with dress code, QR code, and catering
According to the invitation for that section, access was granted via QR code and required formal attire: long pants or skirts and dresses to the knee, with shoulders covered, and no garments bearing political, partisan, or advertising messages. Journalist Eduardo Feinmann confirmed the existence of a VIP area with food and explained that the guests had been invited by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, not by the national government.
Among those who occupied it were presenters and models Valeria Mazza, Pampita, Yanina Latorre, Analía Franchín, and Flor de la V, as well as Supreme Court Justice Ricardo Lorenzetti. Latorre stated that she attended after receiving a formal invitation through official channels and denied having paid for her seat. The organizers have indicated that the celebration was free to attend and that no tickets were sold.
Criticism over the contrast with the Pope’s message
Journalist Nacho Otero wrote: “What a lack of respect to set up a VIP pen for ‘celebrities,’” and criticized that nuns, priests, and elderly people were seated on the ground. A volunteer also complained on X about seeing celebrities just a few meters from the Pope after a long day of service. The criticism highlights the contrast with the message of humility and closeness to the poor that Leo XIV has repeated throughout the trip, as reported by InfoVaticana in its chronicle of the Mass in Buenos Aires, which was attended by around two million people according to figures from the Buenos Aires city government.
Who invited and how much it cost, at the center of the questions
Versions about who drew up the lists are conflicting. Journalist Gonzalo Prado claimed that the General Secretariat of the Presidency and the Foreign Ministry sent the lists to the production company DF Entertainment to issue the QR codes, and that the City Government had a quota of 250 invitations. Vice President Victoria Villarruel has said she did not receive her QR code, while the Casa Rosada maintains that the invitation was sent to her.
Deputy Esteban Paulón has introduced a resolution project requesting that the Executive report on the list of guests, the cost of the VIP catering, which appears in the contract specifications, and who decided each access. DF Entertainment submitted an offer of 8.69 billion pesos, about 5.6 million dollars, for the production services of the event, contracted through direct purchase rather than public tender. Paulón’s project also points to a possible conflict of interest due to the company’s ties to the group that manages the Luna Park.