Pope Leo XIV has celebrated his first mass in Uruguay before a crowd of about 40,000 people in the western city of Paysandu, urging worshippers to become “bridge builders” and share the joy of their faith.
More than 30,000 people had registered in advance for the service at Paris London Park, with many travelling from across Uruguay as well as neighbouring Argentina and Brazil. The Vatican said a further 10,000 attended despite rain and blustery, grey conditions.
Addressing the gathering on Saturday, the Pope called on Catholics to “forward the mission of evangelisation with enthusiasm” and to build a “fraternal community that comes together and shares life, projects, dreams and hopes”.
He also referred to mate tea, a regional tradition in which people drink from the same straw, saying it “teaches us to share and be together”.
The service was the first mass of the Pope’s three-nation South American tour, which will also take him to Argentina and Peru. The visit to Uruguay had been in doubt after the 71-year-old American pontiff underwent lung cancer surgery last month.
However, Leo appeared to be in good health during the event. While travelling from Rome to Montevideo, he attributed his recovery to “trusting God, good doctors, good surgeons, and overall, I think a healthy lifestyle”.
The Pope’s visit to Uruguay is the first by a pontiff to the country in nearly four decades. About 60,000 people are expected to attend a night-time prayer vigil led by Leo in Montevideo later on Saturday.
He is due to travel to Argentina on Sunday before completing the tour in Peru. During his time in Argentina, he will address President Javier Milei, a strong supporter of free markets and an ally of US President Donald Trump.
