More than 40,000 gather as Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in Uruguay
Massive crowds have turned out for the pontiff as he celebrates the first Mass of his South America tour. A nighttime prayer vigil in Montevideo is expected to draw more than 60,000 young people.
More than 40,000 people flocked to the first Mass of Pope Leo XIV during his 12-day tour of South America. The event took place in Paysandu, a city on the Uruguay River, approximately 375 kilometers (230 miles) west of Montevideo. Of the estimated 40,000 attendees, 30,000 were from Uruguay, with another 10,000 braving the rain to participate.
Pope Leo, who underwent surgery for lung cancer on October 13, was met with enthusiastic crowds as he traveled from the local airport to the city's Paris London Park. Pope Leo XIV, who holds citizenship from the US, Peru, and the Vatican, aims to promote the Catholic Church in Uruguay, South America's most secular country. The Mass was dedicated to Blessed Jacinto Vera, who served as Uruguay's first bishop under Pope Leo XIII in 1878.
On Friday, Pope Leo praised Vera's commitment to helping the poor and walking the countryside, emphasizing his goodness. During his final event in Uruguay, a prayer vigil in Montevideo's Centenary Stadium, Pope Leo will encourage young people to embrace religious teachings and reject indifference.
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