Welcome to today’s daily update for Monday, November 9, 2026. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Breakdown
Pope Leo XIV made a visit to Argentina over the weekend, criticizing Argentinian President Javier Milei’s handling of the economy during his visit.
Pope Leo’s ongoing trip to South America is the first papal visit to Uruguay and Argentina since the 1980s – Pope Francis, who was of Argentinian origin, never made a visit home during his papal tenure.
The pope began his trip with a three-day stop in Uruguay, which included a visit to the nation’s capital of Montevideo. His arrival saw immense celebration from locals, and he went forward to lead several prayer vigils and celebrate Mass on Saturday and Sunday.
From there, he departed for Argentina, where he plans to stay until Wednesday before flying to Peru, the last stop on his trip. During the visit, though, the pope took the time to criticize Milei’s handling of the country, arguing that political leaders should prioritize people over the economy. He also urged Argentinian politicians to use gentler words and show more kindness to people with other viewpoints.
The economy must serve the person, not the person the economy.
Pope Leo XIV
Milei, who often harnesses harsh rhetoric and insults, has significantly cut public spending, government bodies, and state regulations while pushing resource-dependent industries like energy and mining to the forefront of the Argentinian economy and restricting inflation. The nation has seen serious improvement from previous years, with the economy experiencing multiple consecutive years of growth, but everyday people have not benefited much from these policies.
Many locals are struggling to pay their bills amid soaring costs, stagnant wages, and a lack of growth in the domestic job market. Much of Argentina’s recent success can be attributed to foreign investment, including the mining of lithium, copper, and silver alongside recent data center projects in the cool steppe of Patagonia.
The absence of government subsidies has also sent utility prices skyrocketing, with costs like water, electricity, and transit bills piling up on homes. Poverty has come down from a concerning 52% in 2024, but it rose around 4% in the last year to rise back up to 32.3% in 2026. Household debt is also at a two-decade high, prompting the message from Pope Leo.
Milei dismissed the claim and argued that the pope had not made the comment to stir political tension – rather, his visit was for the sole purpose of carrying a message of religious unity and peace.
The Global Snapshot
At least 7 people were killed in a devastating train crash in Egypt yesterday, taking place south of Cairo. A train leaving Giza, Egypt’s second-largest city, for the town of Fayoum was traveling south when it collided with a stationary train traveling between Aswan and Cairo. The crash, which sent several passenger carriages tumbling down an embankment, occurred between the stations of Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa in the district of al-Ayyat, Giza province. More than 125 people were injured, requiring 70 ambulances to transport victims to local hospitals in time, with some still in critical condition. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In 1942, 12-year-old Calvin Graham lied about his age to join the Navy. He became a decorated war hero at age 13, but was thrown out of the Navy after his mom found out.
Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Good order is the foundation of all good things. (Edmund Burke)
Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cockamamie (adj, kah-kuh-MAY-mee) - Cockamamie describes something that is ridiculous, silly, or incredible.
In a Sentence: Instead of being honest, he came up with a cockamamie excuse about why he didn’t turn in his assignment.
Image: Vatican News / X / Fair Use
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