The pontiff called for religious freedom, respect for Uruguay’s secular institutions and greater support for vulnerable people during his visit to Montevideo.
Pope Leo XIV opened his Latin American tour in Uruguay on Friday, calling for respect between believers and nonbelievers, greater attention to vulnerable people and the protection of human dignity during his first official engagements in Montevideo.
RELATED: Pope Leo XIV Opens Latin America Tour in Uruguay with Call for Negotiation
Addressing thousands of people at Independence Square, the pontiff said Uruguay’s secular state should guarantee freedom and respect for people of different beliefs while ensuring that religion is not confined to private life.
Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi welcomed Leo XIV during a ceremony in the capital, describing the country as a nation ready to receive him with open arms and hearts.
Orsi acknowledged the difficult and painful processes that shaped the region’s states and institutions but highlighted its relative peace, saying it was one of the few parts of the world without wars between countries.
As he finished his first day in Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV greeted everyone gathered outside the Apostolic Nunciature in Montevideo, where he is staying during his visit.
“Where are the young people? Where are the Pope’s young people?" he encouraged, as the young people cheered.… pic.twitter.com/ZFHS1A02LZ
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 7, 2026
He also pointed to Uruguay’s political coexistence, saying former presidents from different parties and the public could gather peacefully and joyfully to welcome the pontiff.
Leo XIV traveled from Carrasco International Airport to Independence Square, where Orsi greeted him. After stepping out of the popemobile, the pope received a Uruguay national football team jersey and letters from people gathered at the ceremony.
He also greeted Vice President Carolina Cosse and former presidents Julio María Sanguinetti, Luis Lacalle Herrera and Luis Lacalle Pou.
In his address, Leo XIV said Uruguay could continue contributing to the region through patient efforts to reach agreements and respect for the law. He stressed that the country’s secular character should guarantee coexistence between believers and nonbelievers without requiring religious life to remain confined to the private sphere.
The pontiff also addressed human dignity, healthcare and mental health. He spoke about the dignity of unborn people, called for support for the sick and urged greater attention to suicide.
The ceremony brought together representatives of social and community organizations working with people experiencing homelessness, young people and adolescents, students traveling to Montevideo to continue their education, and adults with disabilities who require extensive care.
Representatives of organizations that provide assistance dogs to blind people and children with autism spectrum disorder also attended, alongside groups promoting mental health, cultural participation and collective organization.
The pope additionally met representatives of an institution affiliated with Uruguay’s National Federation of Nonprofit Homes, which provides dignified and humane care for older people.
Music featured prominently in the welcome ceremony. Sixty-five members of the National Choir, 40 members each of the National Youth Choir and National Children’s Choir, and about 100 musicians from the National Youth Orchestra performed the national anthems.
They also performed Hallelujah and Botija de mi país, a song by Uruguayan musician Ruben Rada, who died this year. The inclusion of the latter brought candombe, an Afro-Uruguayan musical tradition recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2009, into the ceremony.
Leo XIV later traveled to Montevideo’s metropolitan cathedral in a golf cart, passing through the narrow streets of the old city amid crowds cheering his arrival. He stopped along the way to receive the keys to the city.
During his meeting with clergy at the cathedral, the pope also called on bishops worldwide to organize days of prayer and fasting to encourage vocations.
Uruguay is the first stop on Leo XIV’s Latin American tour, which will also take him to Argentina and Peru. His visit brought together political leaders, religious representatives, musicians and community organizations, highlighting the country’s secular institutions and social initiatives.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.