The pope blessed 12 new homes in Montevideo’s poorest neighborhoods and called for joint action against poverty, violence and exclusion.
Pope Leo XIV urged Uruguay to confront poverty, violence and social exclusion during a visit to Casavalle, one of Montevideo’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, where he blessed 12 newly built homes and called on the Church, civil society and the state to work together to ensure that no one is left behind.
RELATED: Pope Leo XIV Latin America Visit: 3 Symbols Guide Historic Uruguay Mass
Speaking Saturday before about 12,000 residents gathered at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, Leo said no child in Uruguay, a country he described as rich in resources, should go to bed hungry, be denied education or a dignified future because of insecurity, or suffer violence that could cost them their lives.
“We cannot turn away when we know that there are children in Uruguay who do not go to school for fear of not coming back,” he said. “We cannot silence our conscience when we see that a mother does not have the means to feed her children.”
Speaking at the Casavalle neighborhood of Montevideo, Pope Leo XIV says the Church and Uruguay’s civil authorities must work together to protect human dignity and never allow children to go hungry or suffer violence. pic.twitter.com/y2MKODSzw6
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 7, 2026
The pope urged people to follow the example of the Good Samaritan, who responded to another person’s suffering rather than remaining indifferent.
“We cannot ignore that there are many people around us who suffer, who are alone and vulnerable,” he said.
Leo visited Casavalle, in northern Montevideo, home to about 30,000 people and an area marked by high levels of poverty, violence and drug trafficking. He walked alongside Montevideo Archbishop Cardinal Daniel Sturla through streets lined with makeshift homes and dirt roads before reaching the site of the housing project.
The 12 homes, financed by The Papal Foundation, are part of the Catholic Church’s efforts to support families living in poverty. The pope met some of the beneficiaries and blessed the houses, expressing hope that they would provide more than shelter.
“May these homes be much more than a roof for your families: a true home where you can grow in dignity, peace and hope,” he said.
The visit also highlighted the parish’s work in a community that has historically faced exclusion, according to local priest Pablo Coimbra. The parish runs educational programs, provides food assistance and supports housing projects aimed at improving living conditions and promoting children’s development.
Leo called for coordinated action to address Uruguay’s social challenges, urging the Church, civil society and the state to work together for the common good.
“The decision is ours: to build a new city in which no one is excluded, or to remain comfortably absorbed in our own affairs,” he said.
The gathering was attended by local officials, including Presidential Secretary Alejandro Sánchez, who returned to his home neighborhood to accompany the pope.
After the Casavalle visit, Leo was scheduled to meet the university community at the Catholic University of Uruguay and attend an evening vigil with young people and church movements at Centenario Stadium. His Uruguay itinerary was due to conclude Sunday with a solemn Mass and a lunch with the country’s bishops, before the papal delegation departed for Argentina to continue a 12-day regional tour.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.