World
Pope Leo XIV Holds First Mass in Uruguay, Calls on Crowd to Build Bridges
Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass in Uruguay on Saturday, drawing an estimated 40,000 people to Paris London Park in the western city of Paysandú. The Vatican said about 30,000 attendees had registered in advance, with an additional 10,000 arriving on the day despite rain and grey skies. The mass was part of the pope’s 12‑day Latin American tour, which also includes Argentina and Peru. Leo, 71, who had undergone lung‑cancer surgery last month, appeared healthy and credited his recovery to faith, good doctors and a healthy lifestyle. He urged the crowd to be “bridge builders” and to share the joy of their faith, encouraging them to forward the mission of evangelisation with enthusiasm and to form a fraternal community that shares life, projects, dreams and hopes. The pope also praised the region’s mate tea, noting it teaches sharing and togetherness. A night‑time prayer vigil in Montevideo is expected to attract about 60,000 people. Leo’s visit marks the first papal visit to Uruguay in nearly four decades; he will continue to Argentina on Sunday before concluding his tour in Peru. During his stay in Argentina, the pope will meet President Javier Milei, a strong proponent of free markets and ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.