OMM Newsroom
Argentine authorities have arrested a 49-year-old man accused of making death threats against Pope Leo XIV hours before the pontiff’s arrival in the country, Anadolu Agency reported.
The State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) said the arrest came less than 24 hours after officials received information about the threats. The Argentine Federal Police carried out the operation on the orders of Judge Adrian Gonzalez Charvay of the Federal Court in Campana.
The investigation began on Friday afternoon after the Federal Police’s Counter-Terrorism Investigation Unit received an alert about a threatening phone call targeting the pope’s life. Cyber and field analysts then identified a residence linked to the suspect.
During a subsequent raid, officers arrested the man and seized three mobile phones, including the device allegedly used to make the call, as well as a drone whose operational capabilities are under investigation.
The man has been provisionally charged with making anonymous threats and public intimidation with terrorist intent.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Argentina on Sunday after visiting Montevideo, Uruguay. He is due to remain in the country until Nov. 11, when he will leave from Ezeiza International Airport for Lima, Peru.
The trip is the first papal visit to Argentina in 39 years. President Javier Milei declared it a matter of national interest and established localized holidays during the visit to manage large public events.
