Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass in South America on Saturday in Paysandú, Uruguay, drawing an estimated 40,000 attendees despite recent lung cancer surgery. The event marked the opening of a 12-day tour of South America, with the pontiff emphasizing themes of faith and fraternity.
Paysandú hosts historic papal visit The Mass took place at Parque París Londres, a large public park in Paysandú, a city on the Uruguay River bordering Argentina. More than 30,000 people had registered in advance, while the Vatican reported an additional 10,000 unannounced attendees, undeterred by rainy weather. Crowds began gathering at 5:30 a.m., many wearing yellow Vatican colors and rain ponchos, as a band performed Spanish hymns.
Pontiff’s health and tour proceed as planned The tour had faced uncertainty after Pope Leo underwent lung cancer surgery on October 13. However, the Vatican confirmed the trip would proceed as scheduled. Pope Leo arrived in Uruguay on Friday and participated in an intensive schedule of events, including a visit to a Montevideo neighborhood affected by drug trafficking and gang violence later that day.
Crowd reactions and local engagement Attendees expressed emotional support for the pope’s determination to continue the tour. Soledad Sánchez, 73, who traveled from northern Uruguay, stated, “He’s the representative of Christ but he’s human. And we weren’t sure if he could make it, but he pushed through for us.” Chants of “Olé, olé, olé, olé, Pope, Pope!” greeted the pontiff’s arrival, with many waving yellow handkerchiefs and blowing horns.
Uruguay’s secular context and papal goals Uruguay is considered South America’s most secular nation, with a population of 3.5 million. Pope Leo’s visit aims to raise the profile of the Catholic Church in the country, encouraging faith as a source of strength amid contemporary challenges. The tour includes stops in two additional South American nations, though specific countries were not named in the reports.
Logistics and regional participation The event drew attendees from Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil, reflecting regional interest in the papal visit. The choice of Paysandú, a city previously unvisited by a pope, underscored the significance of the occasion. The Vatican described the turnout as a testament to the pope’s influence and the public’s commitment to the event despite adverse weather conditions.