Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay on Friday at the start of a 12-day tour to three South American countries. This trip comes just weeks after his lung cancer surgery. The 71-year-old pope announced at Montevideo airport that he was very happy to be in the country and had completed a 14-hour flight from Rome.
Warm Welcome for Pope Leo
Pope Leo was greeted by a large crowd upon his arrival in Montevideo. Vatican estimates suggest that around 30,000 people gathered to see him and participate in his first event in this predominantly secular country, where church membership is declining. He told the crowd in Montevideo's main square: "In an era where differences can easily become a source of conflict, continuing to respect the law, engage in dialogue, and patiently seek agreements is a valuable service that Uruguay can offer its neighbors."
Read more: Greg Stanton Faces His Attacker in the New Trailer for 'Golden Age'
Pope's Plans in Uruguay and Travel to Other Countries
Pope Leo also plans to visit the Casavalle neighborhood, known for its high rates of poverty and violence. His arrival in Uruguay marks the first papal visit to the country in nearly four decades; Pope John Paul II last visited in 1988.
Pope Leo will spend three days in Uruguay before traveling to Argentina on Sunday. There, he will meet with Argentine President Javier Milei, who has faced criticism from the Catholic Church due to widespread cuts affecting poverty-related programs. After Argentina, the pope will travel to Peru, where he has spent half of his priestly life and became a Peruvian citizen in 2015.
While the number of Catholics in Peru has also declined in recent years, from 76% in 2013-2014 to about 67%, the reception for the pope's visit in the country is significant. Tickets for the prayer night at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo sold out in just two days. In Peru, the pope plans to hold worship services in his former diocese of Chiclayo and also in the mountain village of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba.
He will also hold a worship service in the historic city of Cusco, the former capital of the Incas, and will pay respects to the indigenous population by visiting Pucallpa in the Amazon region of Peru.
Read more: Season Three of 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' is Coming to Disney+ · Pope Leo XIV Will Undergo Surgery This Week
