Pope Leo XIV Begins 12-Day South American Tour With Uruguay Visit

Uruguay maintains the most secular legal framework in Latin America. The government legalized recreational marijuana, abortion, same-sex marriage, and assisted dying. The Catholic Church opposed these policies. The 71-year-old pontiff began his current tour after a major health event. The trip includes stops in Argentina and Peru. Observers questioned the travel plans after his surgery. The Pope lived in Peru for two decades and became a naturalized citizen there in 2015.

Uruguay decriminalized abortion in 2012. The state legalized assisted dying in 2025. The Catholic Church opposes both measures. Pope Leo underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung on October 13, 2026. His arrival in Uruguay marks the first papal visit to the country since Pope John Paul II traveled there in 1988.

1. Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay on November 6, 2026, for a 12-day tour of three South American countries. The trip marks the first papal visit to the nation since 1988. The Vatican reported that 30,000 people attended the initial event in Montevideo.

2. The Pope attended a welcome at the Plaza Independencia with Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi on November 6, 2026. During the event, the Pope praised Uruguay's development and its transition to clean energy.

3. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit the Casavalle neighborhood in Montevideo during his three-day stay in Uruguay. This area is noted for high rates of poverty and violence. The visit is part of a broader 12-day tour that also includes stops in Argentina and Peru.

4. Pope Leo XIV will lead a mass in Paysandu and another in the city of Florida during his visit to Uruguay. These two services anchor his three-day schedule. The Pope travels to Argentina on November 8, 2026.

1. Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay in November 2026. He underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung on October 13, 2026. The surgery raised concerns about the 12-day South American tour. The 71-year-old pontiff appeared healthy upon his arrival.

2. During his visit, the Pope made remarks that some interpreted as a critique of Uruguay's social policies. He urged the state to prioritize the welfare of its citizens. Observers linked these comments to the country's laws on abortion and assisted dying.

3. Pope Leo XIV commented on Uruguay's suicide rate, noting it is the highest in Latin America. The country has previously legalized abortion, same-sex marriage, and assisted dying, policies that have faced opposition from the Catholic Church.

4. The Catholic Church faces declining numbers in the region. In Argentina, the percentage of the population identifying as Catholic fell from 71% at the start of Pope Francis's papacy to 58% by 2024, while Peru has seen a decline from 76% in 2013-2014 to 67% currently.