Argentina
From the celebration in Paysandú to the encounters with the most vulnerable communities in Montevideo, to prayer before the patron saint of Uruguay. Over the weekend, the Pope called the Church to closeness, listening, and mission.
Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Latin America got fully underway with two intense days in Uruguay. On Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, the Pontiff met with the faithful, young people, educators, and people living in vulnerable situations, before leaving the country for Buenos Aires, the second stop of his South American itinerary, which also includes Peru.
A twelve-day pilgrimage, from November 6 to 17, across three countries, focusing on the spiritual dimension as well as social challenges and the Church’s responsibilities toward communities.
Saturday, from the Eucharistic celebration on the outskirts of Casavalle
Saturday, November 7 began in Paysandú, where Leo XIV presided over Mass in Parque París Londres. Upon returning to Montevideo, the Pope went to the Casavalle neighborhood, on the northern outskirts of the capital, to meet with local social organizations at the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A significant stop in an area marked by economic and social vulnerabilities, where the presence of the ecclesial community daily contends with the hardships of local families.
In the afternoon, the Pontiff met with the world of education at the Catholic University of Uruguay. The day concluded with a prayer vigil at the Centenario Stadium, one of the country’s iconic landmarks. Three different events, united by the call for a Church capable of meeting people in the places of daily life: on the peripheries, in schools, and in faith communities.
In the evening, at Centenario Stadium, the vigil brought together around 100,000 people between the sports facility and the surrounding areas. Addressing young people in particular, Leo XIV spoke on the topic of secularization and religious indifference. He urged them not to confuse smallness with insignificance, recalling that even a numerically small community can be capable of bearing witness to the Gospel.
“Christ has not called us to mediocrity, be holy!” was his encouragement. The Pope recalled the image of Bethlehem, a small place chosen by God to enter history, and urged the young people to live a faith capable of raising questions and directing others toward Jesus.
Sunday at the feet of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three
On Sunday, November 8, the Pope traveled to Florida to celebrate Mass on the solemnity of Nuestra Señora de los Treinta y Tres, patroness of Uruguay. Thousands of the faithful took part in the celebration in the plaza in front of the cathedral, the heart of a devotion deeply tied to the history of national independence as well.
In the homily, Leo XIV expressed special thanks to mothers and grandmothers who, often away from the spotlight, have preserved and passed on the faith in families. He remembered the women who taught children their first prayers, kept the Gospel alive in their homes, and accompanied entire generations with their witness. His thoughts also turned to those who suffer because their children and grandchildren have drifted away from religious practice: “Never tire of passing on the faith!” he urged.
The Pope then appealed to fathers and grandfathers, inviting them to concretely bear witness to the faith through prayer, respect, and daily life. The mission of proclaiming Christ, he stressed, cannot be limited to waiting for the return of those who have drifted away: it is necessary to set out, draw near to people, and listen to them. “Recognizing Christ in the poor, the sick, and those who are alone” means bringing Him to where He is not yet known.
Yesterday afternoon, Pope Leo XIV left Uruguay for Buenos Aires.
Thus begins the second leg of the journey, in Argentina, where the Pontiff will continue his path of meeting with local Churches and the social realities of the continent.
