Argentina's intelligence agency announced Saturday that federal police detained a person for allegedly threatening to kill Pope Leo XIV ahead of the pontiff's official visit to the country scheduled for Sunday, November 8.
The State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) said the detention was carried out by Argentina's Federal Police (PFA) based on information gathered by the agency's Operations Subsecretariat. The operation was completed in less than 24 hours after authorities learned of the threats.
The arrest was authorized by the Federal Court of First Instance in Campana, presided over by Judge Adrián González Charvay. The Federal Police's Anti-Terrorist Investigation Unit (DUIA) conducted the operation following the court order.
In a statement, SIDE emphasized the coordination between its various departments, federal forces, and the judiciary in executing the detention. The agency highlighted that its operational teams maintained ongoing vigilance regarding security threats related to the papal visit.
Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the detained person, the location of the arrest, or specific details about how the threats were made. The timing of the arrest—less than a day before Pope Leo XIV's scheduled arrival—underscores the rapid response by Argentine security services to potential threats against the visiting pontiff.
The papal visit represents a significant diplomatic and religious event for Argentina. Security preparations for such high-profile visits typically involve coordination among multiple government agencies, including intelligence services, law enforcement, and the judiciary, to identify and neutralize potential threats.