Pope Leo XIV begins South American tour in Uruguay

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay on Friday, November 6, at 4:30 p.m. local time to begin his first apostolic trip to South America. The twelve-day tour also includes Argentina and Peru, and will run until Sunday, November 8.

During his stay, the pope will hold activities in Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida. A mass will be celebrated in each of the latter two cities, alongside meetings with authorities, religious representatives and various sectors of society.

“Today, more than ever, politics has the obligation to offer alternatives to war through multilateralism. For humanity, peace and dialogue are the only possible path to follow.”

The itinerary starts with an official ceremony in the Uruguayan capital and ends in Florida, where the central celebration is scheduled before he travels to Buenos Aires. Uruguay is known as one of the most secular countries in the region, with church-state separation established by its 1918 constitution.

An October poll by Equipos Consultores found that 36 percent of Uruguayans identify as Catholic, while 29 percent consider themselves agnostic or atheist. Another 13 percent belong to other Christian faiths and 7 percent to other beliefs.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he received a message from the pope as the papal plane flew over Brazil en route to Uruguay. In it, Leo XIV invoked God's blessings for unity and peace in Brazil.

Lula renewed an invitation, first made in 2025, for the pope to visit Brazil. He said the Brazilian people would welcome His Holiness with affection, hospitality and faith.

Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi met the pope in Montevideo on Friday. Orsi said they share the pontiff's stance on ending conflicts and his commitment to dialogue, adding that politics must offer alternatives to war through multilateralism.