Pope Leo hold first mass in Uruguay, urges crowd to be ‘bridge builders’

Pope Leo XIV delivered a sermon to an estimated 40,000 attendees in Uruguay on Saturday, emphasizing the importance of building bridges of fraternity and faith. The event aimed to boost the Catholic Church's presence in Uruguay, a primarily secular nation. The Pope, who arrived in Uruguay via plane, was greeted by cheers, horns, and yellow handkerchiefs as he arrived at the Mass site in Parque París Londres, a green space on the southern edge of the city.

In his homily, Pope Leo highlighted the Catholic faith's long-standing presence in Uruguayan society and urged the faithful to pass it on to future generations with creativity. He pointed to both the nearby bridge over the Uruguay River and the tradition of drinking mate tea as symbols of unity, encouraging the faithful to apply these concepts to spreading the faith.

Mate, a cherished national symbol in Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay, is typically shared in a communal ritual involving a hollowed gourd and a metal straw called a bombilla.

Despite the morning rain and gray skies, more than 30,000 people, including many from Uruguay and neighboring Argentina and Brazil, attended the service. Pope Leo's visit aimed to convey the church's commitment to helping Uruguayans address current challenges, including drug trafficking and gang violence, through housing initiatives and rehabilitation programs. The Pope's message resonated with the attendees, who valued his humane tone and emphasis on care for the vulnerable.