Pope Leo XIV holds first mass in Uruguay on South American tour

Pope Leo XIV has addressed tens of thousands of individuals who assembled for his initial mass in western Uruguay as part of his ongoing twelve-day journey across Latin America. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church encouraged the gathering at Paris London Park in Paysandu on Saturday to function as bridge builders and to share the happiness derived from their faith.

Over thirty thousand people, originating locally as well as from neighboring Argentina and Brazil, had preregistered to participate in the service located roughly three hundred seventy-five kilometers away from the capital city of Montevideo. According to the Vatican, another ten thousand individuals arrived unannounced despite morning precipitation and windy, overcast conditions. This marked the opening mass of the pontiff's three-nation tour in South America, which additionally encompasses Peru and Argentina. The journey had previously faced uncertainty following the seventy-one-year-old American pontiff's lung cancer procedure conducted in the preceding month.

The religious leader appeared healthy during the weekend appearance. While traveling by air from Rome toward Montevideo, Pope Leo XIV informed journalists that his rapid recovery resulted from placing trust in divinity, competent physicians and surgeons, and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle. His travels through Latin America coincide with a period during which the geographic area is experiencing intense political division, marked by the ascent of several right-wing figures following United States President Donald Trump's return to executive office in January of the prior year. In contrast to this pattern, left-wing Brazilian leader Lula da Silva secured re-election to a fourth term last month.

Message of community in Paysandu

Within Paysandu, the pope instructed the assembly to advance the evangelical mission with great enthusiasm and to maintain a fraternal community characterized by shared lives, projects, dreams, and expectations. During his Saturday address, the pontiff also acknowledged the region's traditional mate tea, which groups frequently consume collectively through a shared straw as a symbolic expression of community.

Approximately sixty thousand people are anticipated to assemble for an evening prayer vigil presided over by the pontiff in Montevideo later on Saturday. The visit represents the initial papal journey to Uruguay in nearly forty years. Following these events, the religious leader will travel toward Argentina on Sunday prior to concluding his journey within Peru. During the Argentine leg of the trip, the pope is scheduled to address President Javier Milei, who serves as a prominent advocate for free markets and maintains close alignment with United States President Donald Trump.

Pope Leo XIV urged massive crowds in Uruguay to act as bridge builders during his mass.

Why it matters

The papal visit signifies a rare milestone for Uruguay, marking the first time in nearly four decades that a head of the Catholic Church has traveled to the nation. For the tens of thousands who gathered in Paysandu despite adverse weather conditions, the service offers spiritual guidance and reinforces community bonds amid a broader regional landscape shaped by political polarization.