---
title: Pope Leo XIV Visits Uruguay as First Stop of South American Apostolic Journey
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/pope-leo-xiv-visits-uruguay-as-first-stop-of-south-american-apostolic-journey
published: 2026-11-11T14:49:23+00:00
language: en
section: World Church
source: https://www.agensir.it/chiesa/2026/11/08/papa-in-uruguay-bisogna-mettersi-in-cammino-verso-chi-si-e-allontanato/
organizations: Catholic University of Uruguay, parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Pope Leo XIV Visits Uruguay as First Stop of South American Apostolic Journey

Pope Leo XIV visited Uruguay as the first stage of an apostolic journey to South America. This trip marks his sixth international apostolic journey and is the longest of his pontificate so far. The visit occurred only three weeks after the Pope underwent surgery for a lung tumor.

Upon arrival, 30,000 people accompanied the Pope from the Montevideo airport to Independence Square. During his first speech in Uruguay, the Pope stated that public authority finds its reason for being in service to the common good. He later visited the Casavalle neighborhood, one of the poorest areas of the capital, where he blessed 12 homes for families in economic distress. These homes were created through the efforts of the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

In a vigil at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, the Pope addressed 100,000 young people, urging them to be saints and not fear eternity. During a final mass in Florida, he thanked women, specifically mothers and grandmothers, for keeping a path toward God open in many families and encouraged them to continue transmitting the faith. In Paysandú, the Pope presided over a mass for 40,000 people at Parque Paris and Londres, where he paid tribute to the blessed Jacinto Vera.

Addressing social and ethical issues, the Pope spoke against abortion and euthanasia. At the Catholic University of Uruguay, he asserted that human life must be respected in all phases and states. He opposed the presumed right to die, stating that every person should live with dignity and receive necessary care until the natural end of life. He also highlighted the rise of suicides, particularly among youth, noting that loneliness and loss of hope can lead people to stop finding reasons to live.

Regarding healthcare, the Pope reflected on his own recent illness and the care he received. He argued that ensuring healthcare is accessible to every person, regardless of their resources, is a responsibility for the entire society. He expressed concern for children in Uruguay who do not attend school due to fear and mothers who lack the means to feed their children.

On the topic of labor, the Pope stated that work is for man and not man for work. He noted that this criterion remains relevant amid rapid changes in technology and artificial intelligence to prevent workers from being reduced to replaceable pieces in the production process. The Pope's 12 day itinerary includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

## This story in other languages

- [Deutsch](https://www.faithfulnews.com/de/papst-leone-xiv-beginnt-langste-reise-seines-pontifikats-mit-besuch-in-uruguay)
- [Português (Brasil)](https://www.faithfulnews.com/pt-br/papa-leone-xiv-inicia-viagem-apostolica-na-america-do-sul-com-foco-em-vida-e-justica-social)
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