Falling birth rates, fading faith? Pope Leo's message to Uruguay's youth

People attend a prayer vigil with Pope Leo at the Centenary Stadium on the first papal visit to Uruguay since 1988, as part of his 12-day trip to South America, in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Pope Leo XIV has urged young people to marry and start families, telling them not to fear lifelong commitment, as he continued his South American tour in Uruguay, a country that has experienced a sharp decline in birth rates. "Young people, dare to take the step of marrying and starting a family yourselves. Don't be afraid of 'forever'!" Leo said during a youth prayer service at a packed stadium in the capital, Montevideo, according to news agency AFP. The appeal came on the second day of his visit to Uruguay, the first stop of his three-nation South American tour.

Pope calls on Uruguayans to strengthen faith and fraternity

During his visit, Leo also urged Uruguayans to build bridges of fraternity and faith, highlighting the Catholic Church's role in a country regarded as Latin America's most secular. On Saturday, he travelled to Paysandú, in western Uruguay near the border with Argentina, to celebrate his first Mass in South America. The Vatican estimated that around 40,000 people attended despite rainy and windy weather. Addressing the gathering in Spanish, Leo said the Catholic faith had been "part of the life of the Uruguayan people since their earliest days, and it must be passed on to future generations with creative courage!" He also referred to mate, the bitter herbal tea widely consumed in Uruguay and neighbouring countries, as a symbol of unity and shared identity. "It teaches us to share and to be together, strengthening the bonds that unite us as brothers and sisters," he said, as quoted by news agency AP. "It is a sign of welcome, integration and shared values."

Pope highlights church's work in violence-hit neighbourhood

Later on Saturday, Leo visited Casavalle, a neighbourhood in Montevideo affected by drug trafficking and gang violence. He toured homes built by the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Borro and highlighted the work of church groups supporting people recovering from addiction. The Pope urged Christians to follow the example of the Good Samaritan and show compassion towards those in need. "We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there are children in Uruguay who do not go to school for fear of never returning home," he said. The parish builds homes and runs programmes supporting people recovering from addiction, with donations that include contributions from the US-based Papal Foundation.

Large crowds attend prayer vigil

Leo later presided over an evening prayer vigil at Montevideo's Centenario Stadium, which hosted Pope John Paul II during his visit to Uruguay in 1988. The Vatican estimated that around 70,000 people were inside the stadium, while another 30,000 watched the event on screens outside, AP reported. Addressing the gathering, Leo said the relatively small number of Catholics in Uruguay did not determine the significance of the Church's presence. "God chose Bethlehem, and that choice alone is enough to prevent us from equating smallness with insignificance," he said. Leo is scheduled to leave Uruguay on Sunday afternoon for Argentina, the second stop of his tour, which is set to conclude in Peru, his second homeland.