Pope Leo XIV Urges Unity at First South American Mass in Paysandú
At a stopover in Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV celebrated a Mass in Paysandú before an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 faithful. The visit is part of his longest foreign trip so far.
Pope Leo XIV has called on Uruguay to overcome the divisions in South America. At a Mass on Saturday in a park in the city of Paysandú, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people gathered. The faithful came from Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil.
The Mass in Paysandú is the Pope's first on the South American continent. Paysandú lies on the Uruguay River near the border with Argentina. The Pope's message aimed to build bridges between the countries and communities of the region.
The trip is the longest international journey of his pontificate so far and lasts twelve days. It begins only a few weeks after an operation for lung cancer. No further details about his health following the procedure are available in the reports at hand.
Uruguay is considered the most secular country in the region. With the visit, the Pope aims to strengthen the profile of the Catholic Church there. How the visit will affect church attendance in the country in the long term remains open. The full route of the trip beyond Uruguay is also not described in the available information.
Source: investing.com
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