Pope Leo XIV Celebrates Historic First Mass in Uruguay

OPA WIRE, Nov 7 (OPA) — More than 30,000 pilgrims converged on Parque París Londres in Paysandú, a city situated roughly 375 kilometers from the capital, Montevideo. The gathering marked the first time a sitting pope has visited the western Uruguayan city. Crowds donning rain ponchos and Vatican colors arrived as early as 5:30 a.m. for the service, which initiated the pontiff's ambitious regional itinerary following his lung cancer surgery on Oct. 13.

"He's the representative of Christ but he's human," said Soledad Sánchez, a 73-year-old attendee who traveled from northern Uruguay. "And we weren't sure if he could make it, but he pushed through for us." The Mass was dedicated to Blessed Jacinto Vera, the 19th-century priest who served as Uruguay's first bishop. Leo praised Vera on Friday for his extensive pastoral work among the poor.

Uruguay features a population of 3.5 million and a deeply secular culture where the Catholic Church recorded zero new seminarians in 2024. During an evening vespers service Friday in Montevideo's cathedral, Leo urged clergy to model themselves on Christ to attract younger generations. Later Saturday, the pope planned to tour a Montevideo neighborhood affected by gang violence and narcotics trafficking, concluding his day with a prayer vigil at Centenary Stadium.

Following his engagements in Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Argentina to visit Buenos Aires, Luján, and Córdoba. The South American tour concludes in Peru, the pontiff's second homeland. Observers noted that the pope's emphasis on humanitarian aid and vulnerable populations has resonated beyond committed Catholics in the region.