The Vatican and local authorities reported that more than 40,000 individuals gathered on Saturday morning to attend the opening Mass of Pope Leo XIV’s 12-day, three-nation tour of South America in western Uruguay.
Mass in Paysandu and Crowds
The Vatican stated that 30,000 people from Uruguay alongside neighboring Argentina and Brazil had registered for the gathering. An additional 10,000 people braved the rain to join the service held in Paysandu, a city situated on the Uruguay River approximately 375 kilometers west of the capital, Montevideo.
Pope Leo, who underwent surgery for lung cancer on October 13, received enthusiastic cheers from crowds as he traveled from the local airport to Paysandu’s Paris London Park.
Attendee Soledad Sanchez shared her perspective with the AFP news agency after traveling a long distance to reach Paysandu, noting that the pontiff is human despite representing Christ. Sanchez expressed that she and others doubted he would make the journey, but he pushed through for them to deliver a message of peace because he understands the world’s current needs.
Focus on Uruguay and Upcoming Schedule
The 71-year-old US-born pontiff, who holds citizenship in the United States, Peru, and the Vatican, aims to revitalize interest in the Catholic Church within Uruguay, recognized as South America’s most secular nation. He views this engagement as a way to help citizens navigate modern challenges.
The Saturday morning Mass honored the Blessed Jacinto Vera, named Uruguay’s first bishop by Pope Leo XIII in 1878. On Friday, the head of the Catholic Church referenced Bishop Vera’s dedication to traveling the countryside and assisting the poor, stating that those who met him experienced Christ’s goodness.
Later on Saturday, Pope Leo planned to visit a Montevideo neighborhood impacted by drug violence, where the Church funds public housing and addiction rehabilitation programs. His final event in Uruguay will be a prayer vigil at Montevideo’s Centenary Stadium, projected to attract 60,000 young faithful, where he intends to urge young people to abandon religious indifference.
Pope Leo’s focus on charity and brotherly love has resonated significantly with youth in Uruguay and internationally. An 18-year-old participant told AFP that they do not consider themselves religious but appreciate the pope’s positive message for humanity, noting that non-believers can also learn from his ideas.
On Sunday, Pope Leo is scheduled to leave for Argentina to meet with President Javier Milei, a libertarian-populist and ally of US President Donald Trump.
