Pope Leo XIV addressed tens of thousands of devotees in western Uruguay on Saturday, marking the start of his 12 day tour across Latin America. The head of the Roman Catholic Church held his first mass of the trip at Paris London Park in the city of Paysandu. During the service, he encouraged the assembled crowd to act as bridge builders and to share the joy inherent in their faith.
More than 30,000 individuals had registered in advance to attend the religious ceremony. The attendees included many local Uruguayans as well as visitors from neighboring Argentina and Brazil. The location is situated approximately 375 kilometers, or 230 miles, from the capital city of Montevideo. According to the Vatican, an additional 10,000 people arrived at the site despite the morning rain and blustery grey skies.
This mass served as the opening event for a three nation tour that also includes stops in Argentina and Peru. The itinerary had been uncertain following lung cancer surgery that the 71 year old American pope underwent last month. However, the pontiff appeared to be in good health during Saturday's proceedings. While traveling from Rome to Montevideo, Leo told reporters that his speedy recovery was attributed to trusting God, having good doctors and surgeons, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle overall.
The visit to the region occurs at a time of significant political division. Several right wing leaders have assumed power in Latin America since United States President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January of last year. In contrast to this trend, left wing Brazilian President Lula da Silva was re elected for a fourth term in office just last month.
In his address in Paysandu, Leo urged the faithful to forward the mission of evangelization with enthusiasm. He described the congregation as a fraternal community that comes together to share life, projects, dreams, and hopes. The pope also paid homage to mate tea, a beverage beloved in the region. It is commonly shared among groups who drink from the same straw in a symbolic display of community. The pontiff noted that the drink teaches people to share and be together.
Approximately 60,000 people are expected to gather for a night time prayer vigil led by the pope in Montevideo later on Saturday. This visit represents the first time a pope has traveled to Uruguay in nearly four decades. Following his time in Uruguay, Leo will head to Argentina on Sunday. He will finish his tour in Peru. During his stop in Argentina, the pope is scheduled to address President Javier Milei, who is a strong proponent of free markets and a close ally of US President Donald Trump.
