Pope Leo XIV (Leo XIV) began his 12-day journey to South America on Friday from Rome. This trip, which started only three weeks after his lung cancer surgery, includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
Stay in Uruguay and Meetings with Officials
After a 13.5-hour flight, the Pope will arrive in Uruguay and will stay in the country for three days. During this trip, he will meet with Yamandu Orsi, the President of Uruguay, who is the leader of a center-left coalition. The Pope also intends to visit the Casavalle neighborhood, known for its high rates of poverty and violence.
Uruguay is recognized as one of the secular countries in Latin America and is the first country to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Additionally, this country has been a leader in other areas such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and assisted dying, which have faced opposition from the Catholic Church.
Travel to Argentina and Peru
On Sunday, the Pope will travel to Argentina, the country where his predecessor, Pope Francis, was born. While at the beginning of Pope Francis's papacy, about 71% of Argentinians identified as Catholic, this figure has decreased to 58% by 2024. Pope Leo plans to meet with Javier Milei, the President of Argentina, who has faced criticism from the Church due to severe budget cuts and their negative impact on support programs for vulnerable groups.
The Pope's visit to Peru will be the final part of this journey. He has special programs planned in this country, where he lived and preached for 20 years. The Pope will celebrate Mass in the Chiclayo area, which was his former residence. He will also travel to the village of Santa Cruz de Sachabamba in the mountainous regions and will go to Pucallpa in the Amazon of Peru in honor of the indigenous population.
Public interest and excitement in Peru are clearly visible, as street vendors sell T-shirts and rosaries featuring his image, and bakeries offer Leo bread. However, the Catholic population in Peru has also decreased in recent years, from 76% in 2013-2014 to about 67% now.
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