Pope Leo condemns drug violence, pushes marriage in Uruguay

Pope Leo XIV delivered a speech in Montevideo on Saturday, criticizing the high rates of child mortality in areas of Uruguay plagued by drug violence. The pontiff, 71 years old and recovering from lung cancer surgery, delivered his remarks during a 12-day tour of South America. He visited the crime-ridden neighborhood of Casavalle, where the murder rate is four times the national average.

Residents shared harrowing stories of violence, gun attacks, and the fear of never returning home. Leo emphasized the need for young people to marry and start families, urging them not to be afraid of commitment. At a prayer vigil, he warned about the decline of religious faith in Latin America due to falling fertility rates, which have dropped from nearly six children per woman in the 1950s to 1.8 children in 2024.

The pope invited Catholics in Uruguay, a predominantly secular country, to serve as "bridge builders" and called for responsible use of AI in education, ensuring it serves human dignity.