Pope Leo XIV Begins Uruguay Visit After Lung Surgery

Pope Leo XIV Begins Uruguay Visit After Lung Surgery : Pope Leo XIV has began a three-country trip of South America with a stop in Uruguay, only three weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his right lung. The 71-year-old pontiff landed in Montevideo following a 13-and-a-half-hour journey from Rome and was greeted warmly by massive crowds.

The Vatican reported that around 30,000 people came to meet him and attend his first public engagement. Many people cheered as he drove through the city in an open-sided popemobile. Some people also brought newborns forward for him to kiss.

Before arriving in Uruguay, Leo chatted with media on the papal aircraft. He recognized that some had questioned his ability to complete the grueling 12-day expedition. However, he stated that he had been certain from the start that the trip would go ahead.

When asked about his recuperation, the pope praised God, his physicians and surgeons, and his healthy lifestyle. When asked if he felt as wonderful as he looked, he said he may feel better.

Pope Leo XIV Uruguay Visit Draws Thousands in Montevideo

Despite the lengthy travel, Leo seemed energized at his welcome ceremony at Plaza Independencia. The speaker welcomed President Yamandú Orsi and other government leaders before making an outdoor speech under windy weather.

Later, he attended an evening vespers service at Montevideo Cathedral. The event concluded around 9 p.m. local time, which is 1 a.m. in Rome.

During his address to Orsi, the pope praised Uruguay’s progress while also mentioning its Catholic heritage. His three-day visit intends to convey the Church’s message to the country’s population of around 3.5 million people.

Leo also discussed the responsibilities of protecting human dignity and providing care to individuals at all stages of life. He stated that everyone should have access to the care they require and be accompanied till the natural end of life.

His comments echoed the Catholic Church’s stance to euthanasia. Uruguay adopted assisted dying laws in 2025, despite considerable Church opposition. The country also has lax abortion laws.

The pope stated that the Church plays an especially important role in assisting those in need. He defined faith as a source of hope when human assistance is insufficient, adding that those living through terrible circumstances should understand that their lives have worth and value.

Pope Leo XIV Uruguay Visit Highlights a Secular Society

Uruguay is usually recognized as Latin America’s most secular nation. Although many individuals identify as Catholic, just a tiny percentage of them attend Mass on a regular basis.

Historians attribute some of this pattern to the country’s colonial heritage. Spain paid less attention to the region than other sections of its empire, and the Catholic Church had fewer priests and no local bishop during its early years. Montevideo was established in the 1720s, significantly later than important colonial towns like Mexico City and Lima.

The separation of religion and state expanded over the nineteenth century as liberal views gained traction. Uruguay has passed many laws that deviate from Catholic doctrine. It was the first country in Latin America to legalize recreational marijuana, the second to decriminalize abortion, and the third in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage.

Even nevertheless, Leo’s entrance sparked widespread public curiosity. According to church leaders, tickets for a prayer vigil at Montevideo’s Centenario Stadium sold out in two days. The latest pope to visit Uruguay was John Paul II in 1988.

Some neighbors hailed Leo’s visit as an opportunity to bring people together across religious lines. Others questioned why he selected a place where Catholicism is scarce. However, the throngs throughout his path demonstrated the public’s excitement in his coming.

Following his three-day visit to Uruguay, Leo will fly to Argentina and finally Peru, where he served as a missionary bishop for two decades. The travel is the longest and furthest of his pontificate thus far, taking place as he recovers.

His presence has brought enormous audiences, but it is unclear whether this excitement will lead to more people returning to regular church attendance.