Pope Leo XIV has arrived in South America to begin a twelve day journey across three countries. This marks his first major overseas visit since undergoing surgery for lung cancer last month. The trip is his longest and most far reaching to date, involving twelve flights, two helicopter rides, and thirty six speeches across ten cities. One of the destinations is Cusco, Peru, which sits more than 11,000 feet above sea level, posing a risk of altitude sickness for even experienced travelers.
Vatican officials confirmed that the pontiff has completed his two week recovery period and requires no further treatment. Maria Montserrat Alvar, the Vatican's new communications chief, stated that the pope is eager to start his journey. She noted that his doctors are confident in his health and that he will have ample medical care available on board during the travels.
The choice of Uruguay as the first stop has raised questions for many observers. The pope spent two decades in Peru, first as a missionary and later as the Bishop of Chiclayo. In contrast, Uruguay is a small nation of approximately 3.5 million people and is famously the most secular country in Latin America. When asked why include this stop, Communications Chief Alvarado replied simply, "Why Not?" adding that the Gospel is meant to go everywhere.
In the capital city of Montevideo, few welcome banners are visible, though large posters of the pope adorn several churches. At the Blessed Sacrament Church in the upscale Pocitos neighborhood, retiree Ana Maria Saprissa expressed gratitude for the visit. She said the journey brings joy because the pope remembered a small country with many needs. Uruguay has separated religion from government for over a century, with Christmas officially known as Family Day and Easter week as Tourism Week.
Political analyst Mariana Pomiés noted that only about a third of Uruguayans identify as Catholics, with even fewer practicing the faith. She argued that officials often misinterpret secularism as being anti religion. Pomiés explained that secularism is about state neutrality in religious matters, but that this neutrality has sometimes become an absolute in the country.
In the working class Casavalle neighborhood, volunteers prepared for the pope's scheduled visit by cleaning streets and erecting a stage outside the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Father Pablo Coimbra, the community's pastoral leader for six years, expressed deep gratitude. He said that for the first time, people who live on the margins of opportunities and the future are placed at the center of attention.
A proposed address to the Uruguayan parliament was quickly scrapped after receiving swift criticism from the public and political figures. However, President Yamandú Orsi will oversee a welcome ceremony outside the main cathedral in Montevideo. The pope will later celebrate evening prayers with church leaders and laypeople. On Sunday, he is scheduled to hold mass in Florida, a town known for its Catholic and national pride.
By Sunday, the pope will move to neighboring Argentina, fulfilling a long held wish of his predecessor, Pope Francis. Francis had hoped to return to his homeland but never made the trip before his death. He had expressed a desire to keep a papal visit from becoming entangled in Argentina's polarized politics. Leo's visit will serve as an early test of how he addresses tensions between the Church and right wing populist leaders in Latin America.
These tensions are also evident in the United States, where Leo has clashed with President Donald Trump over immigration. In Argentina, President Javier Milei has implemented sweeping austerity measures that have pushed millions into poverty, potentially putting him at odds with the pope, who has long championed the poor. Milei has also embraced data centers and loose AI regulation, whereas Leo's inaugural encyclical called for ethical caution and safeguards to protect human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.
The final leg of the trip will take the pope back to Peru, a return that has been billed as a homecoming. Leo became a naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015 and has stated that the country shaped his life more than anything else. He will meet with President Keiko Fujimori and visit cities where he lived. During the Fujimori dictatorship, Leo was critical of military violence and supported the efforts that led to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Despite this history, some locals in Uruguay remain unsure of his influence, though many are willing to give him a chance because he is South American.
