Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Uruguay for South American Tour

Pope Leo XIV landed in Montevideo at 16:19 local time on November 6, marking the start of a 12-day apostolic journey across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru just three weeks after undergoing lung cancer surgery. The 71-year-old pontiff is undertaking one of the most intense papal tours of recent decades, returning to the continent where he shaped his priestly vocation.

Arrival in Montevideo and Initial Engagements

The ITA Airways flight carrying the pontiff touched down at Carrasco International Airport after a flight of thirteen and a half hours, as Vatican News detailed. Security forces mobilized 5,000 police officers and 1,000 soldiers across the country for the visit. Following his arrival, Pope Leo XIV traveled to Independence Square for an official welcome ceremony hosted by left-wing President Yamandú Orsi outside the Executive Tower. The schedule for his first day included meetings with the vice president, the president of the Supreme Court, and three former heads of state, followed by an address to civil authorities and the diplomatic corps. He then visited President Orsi at the José Artigas building before presiding over evening vespers at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Saints Philip and James with local clergy and seminarians.

Doctors Clear Pope Leo XIV for Travel

Doctors cleared the pontiff to travel despite his recent lung surgery, and the Vatican confirmed that no special medical measures beyond standard papal tour protocols were required. Before landing, Pope Leo XIV told journalists aboard the aircraft that he felt in fairly good shape and insisted that he never doubted the journey had to happen. He credited his recovery to faith in God, good physicians, and a healthy lifestyle. Christopher White, a U.S.-based Vatican expert cited by AFP, noted that this trip represents a double homecoming, particularly given that the Pope spent nearly two decades as a missionary in Peru, a country he describes as one of his many homes.

Pope Visits Uruguay Amid Secular Laws

Pope Leo XIV is only the second successor of Peter to visit Uruguay, following Saint John Paul II’s pilgrimages in 1987 and 1988, according to Vatican News. The current 12-day itinerary spans Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, running through November 17. The visit brings the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics into South America’s most secular nation. While Uruguay boasts high economic standing, it maintains liberal laws regarding abortion, same-sex marriage, and euthanasia, creating clear points of divergence with Catholic teaching. Cardinal Daniel Sturla, Archbishop of Montevideo, told AFP that public interest in the papal visit reaches well beyond the borders of the Catholic Church, with tickets for masses in Paysandú and Florida selling out rapidly. The Pope’s itinerary also includes a stop in the impoverished and violence-impacted Montevideo neighborhood of Casavalle, where discussions are expected to touch on mental health and Uruguay’s highest suicide rate in Latin America.

Next Steps on the South American Tour

Following his three-day stay in Uruguay ending on November 8, the pontiff will travel to Argentina on Sunday. That leg carries distinct historical weight, as his predecessor Francis did not visit his home country during his pontificate. The tour concludes with the final leg in Peru, with the itinerary running through November 17.