Pope wraps up Uruguay visit and heads to most fraught stop of his tour in Argentina

Pope Leo XIV concluded his visit to Uruguay on Sunday by honoring a significant Catholic feast day that is linked to the nation's independence. During his final event in Montevideo, thousands of pilgrims gathered to pray before the small wooden statue of the Virgin of the Thirty-three, which was carried by 33 independence fighters when Uruguay declared its freedom from Brazil in 1825.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to Uruguay aimed to highlight the church's integral role in the Latin American country's identity, despite its later secular and sometimes anticlerical trajectory.

After his Uruguayan stop, the 71-year-old pope headed to Argentina, preparing for what is expected to be the most politically sensitive leg of his three-nation South American tour. The reason for this heightened tension is Pope Leo's stark criticism of President Javier Milei's austerity program, which has drastically reduced social spending and sparked controversy among Argentine church leaders.

Milei's government has implemented wide-ranging cuts, including a 48% reduction in Argentina's health care budget in real terms, which has strained relations between the pontiff and the Argentine clergy.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to Argentina comes amidst a continued legacy dispute left by his predecessor Pope Francis, who never returned to his native Argentina during his 12-year reign. While both popes share a commitment to social justice and the plight of the poor, their differing approaches have created tensions in Argentina. As the future of Argentine society hangs in the balance, Pope Leo XIV's visit may serve to reinforce his image as a respected leader, offering a strong voice in both spiritual and political matters.