Pope Leo XIV arrives in Uruguay starting 12-day Latin America tour

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Friday, kicking off a 12-day trip across South America. The 71-year-old pontiff, who underwent lung cancer surgery the month prior, will journey to Argentina and Peru, covering a total distance of 31,000km and delivering 36 speeches.

Upon landing, Pope Leo was greeted by President Yamandu Orsi and two children with flowers at Montevideo's Carrasco International Airport. Later, in Independence Square, the Vatican estimated that at least 30,000 people gathered to hear the pontiff's appeal for regional unity. He urged South American governments to cooperate and serve as an example for international cooperation, stating that persevering in respect for the law, negotiation, and agreement-finding can offer a service to neighbors.

During his tour, Pope Leo will address issues such as environmental destruction, arms trafficking, and political instability. He will also visit a prison in Argentina and remote Andean communities in Peru via helicopter. The Pope, born in Chicago but with strong ties to Peru, considers this trip a "homecoming" to places he holds dear.

He called for a global economy that benefits everyone rather than just the wealthiest and warned against the rapid development of artificial intelligence, which he believes could reduce workers to mere cogs in production processes.