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Pope Leo XIV Urges Faithful to Build Bridges of Faith in Uruguay

Updated 1:52 AM ET · 9:43 PM ETConfirmedShare via:          

Faith Desk

In Short: Pope Leo XIV urged an estimated 40,000 people in Uruguay to build bridges of fraternity and faith during his first Mass in South America.

Leo arrived in Uruguay on Nov. 6, and his visit was in doubt after he underwent lung cancer surgery on Oct. 13. The city was chosen to host Leo’s first Mass at the start of his three-nation South American tour due to its accessible location on the Uruguay River.

The Pope's message focused on the importance of faith in one God to unite people in the work of peace. He encouraged the faithful to build bridges and share the joy of their faith, emphasizing that faith in Jesus Christ can provide strength and courage.

Soledad Sánchez, 73, who had driven to Paysandú from northern Uruguay, expressed her joy at the Pope's presence, saying, 'He’s the representative of Christ but he’s human. And we weren’t sure if he could make it, but he pushed through for us.'

The Pope also recalled the initiative in Uruguay that began in 2024 when the interdiocesan seminary received no new candidates. He urged the faithful to observe August 22 as a day of fasting and prayer for peace and justice.

Leo’s homily highlighted the ritual of drinking mate, a bitter herbal tea that Uruguayans and their neighbors carry everywhere, as a symbol of unity that should be applied to spreading the faith today.

The Pope’s visit also aimed to build bridges in a divided society, with the Bishop of Rawson, the youngest diocese in the country, hoping that Leo XIV would help foster unity.

Leo spent his first full day in Uruguay pointing to the church’s historic roots in the country and the work it’s doing today, celebrating Mass for about 40,000 people in Paysandú and telling the Church to be bridges so that many may encounter Jesus.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• PAYSANDÚ, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV urged an estimated 40,000 people in Uruguay on Saturday to build bridges of fraternity and faith, as he used his first Mass in South America to deliver an ode to the region’s beloved mate tea and raise the profile of the Catholic Church in its most secular country.
• “He’s the representative of Christ but he’s human. And we weren’t sure if he could make it, but he pushed through for us,” said Soledad Sánchez, 73, who had driven to Paysandú from northern Uruguay, her eyes filling with tears.
• Leo, who arrived in Uruguay on Nov. 6, is urging the people in South America's most secular country of 3.5 million to turn to the Catholic faith for strength in confronting today's problems and challenges.
• Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful on Saturday as he arrives to celebrate Mass at Parque Paris Londres in Paysandu, Uruguay.
• Crowds of faithful in rain ponchos, many in the Vatican’s yellow, began streaming into the site when the gates opened at 5.30am as a band played popular Spanish hymns.
• More than 30,000 people — many from Uruguay but also from neighbouring Argentina and Brazil — had registered in advance to attend the service, around 230 miles from the capital, Montevideo.
• The crowd erupted in the stadium chant of “Olé, olé, olé, olé, pope, pope!” when Leo's plane landed in Paysandú, in western Uruguay on the border with Argentina.
• In his homily, Leo urged the faithful to build bridges of faith and fraternity, recalling the nearby bridge over the Uruguay River that unites Uruguay and Argentina and over which many pilgrims travelled to attend the Mass. [ Pope begins 12-day trip to Latin America weeks after lung cancer surgery Opens in new window ] He also pointed to the ritual of drinking mate, the ubiquitous bitter herbal tea that Uruguayans and their neighbours carry everywhere, as a poignant symbol of unity that he suggested should be applied to spreading the faith today.
• It was the first Mass of Leo’s three-nation South American tour that had been in doubt after the 71-year-old American pope underwent lung cancer surgery on October 13.

What's still developing

• Worshippers cheer ahead of a prayer vigil led by Pope Leo XIV at Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov.
• He said that he would carry their words of faith always in his heart.
• “We believe that peace is possible, and we want to build it.” The palm groves, he explained, express a desire to come together and build communities of faith.
• “They help us seek God’s presence among us and receive from the Lord the strength and courage to live and proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ, who has given us life.” The Pope then returned by car to Tydeo Larre Borges International Airport for his return flight to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.
• Fasting and prayer for peace At the end of his General Audience on August 20, 2025, Pope Leo XIV also invited the faithful to observe August 22, the memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a day of “fasting and prayer.” He asked Catholics to implore the Lord to “grant us peace and justice” and to “dry the tears of those who suffer” because of ongoing armed conflicts.
• For hundreds of faithful from Argentine Patagonia, taking part in the Pontiff’s visit means embarking on a long journey from one of the country’s largest and least populated regions.

Sources

• Crux: Covering all things Catholiclink
• National Catholic Reporterlink
• TelegraphHerald.comlink
• thecanadianpressnews.calink
• Vaticannewslink
• Heraldmalaysialink
• Coasttvlink
• Al Jazeeralink
• Times-Newslink
• Churchinneedlink
• Ealingtimeslink
• Transylvaniatimeslink
• Wherepeterislink
• Irishtimeslink
• Gazette-Newslink
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Urges Faithful to Continue Passing on Catholic Faith link