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Faithful from Rio Grande do Sul travel to Uruguay to see Pope Leo XIV

Hundreds of people left Guaíba and Santana do Livramento to attend the Holy Sunday Mass celebrated by the Pope in Uruguay

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Hundreds of faithful from Rio Grande do Sul traveled to Uruguay to see Pope Leo XIV, who celebrates Holy Mass on Sunday in the country.
The tour departed from Guaíba, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, and faithful from Santana do Livramento also went to the border to follow the event.

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Why It Matters

Hundreds of faithful from Rio Grande do Sul traveled to Uruguay to see Pope Leo XIV, who celebrates Holy Mass on Sunday in the country. The tour was organized at the last minute from a church in Guaíba, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre. Faithful from Santana do Livramento, on the border, also came out to attend the mass.

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Hundreds of faithful from Rio Grande do Sul took to the road to see the Pope in Uruguay. This Sunday, Leo XIV celebrates Holy Sunday Mass in Uruguay.

The tour was scheduled at the last minute. The meeting point: a church in Guaíba, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre.

"It's an idea from a young priest, who thought of doing this back and forth", says Father Pedro Kaufmann.

In the baggage, there is no shortage of expectations. "I'm expecting something very exciting and so on. It's going to be my first time leaving the country and we're also going to see the Pope", says student Lucas Sama.

"It's a wonderful experience, of renewing our faith. It's an unforgettable thing to keep in your heart forever", says Naine de Oliveira.

There were also many people who traveled on their own, using regular bus lines.

With the increase in demand for tickets to Uruguay, the Porto Alegre bus station had to open extra hours to serve passengers who wanted to follow the Pope's visit.

Janaina met Bolivian Erica at church, and the two decided to undertake the 800 kilometers that connect the capital of Rio Grande do Sul to Montevideo.

"When I found out that the Pope was going to come to Uruguay, I already planned for the trip and today we are going with great joy", says Janaina Araújo, teacher, who is going to see the Pope for the first time.

"Yes, I asked God to be able to go see the Pope, I was very happy", recalls missionary Erica Alvarez.

Even the bus driver will take advantage of the opportunity. "Afterwards we take a walk there and if we have the opportunity we will be able to get closer to him", says Zeno Pedro da Silva.

The path is shorter for those who live on the border. The faithful of the parish of Santana do Livramento went out this Saturday to attend the Pope's mass on Sunday.

"For us, it's really close, because from where he is in Rome, so close, 5 hours isn't even anything", says Amanda Cardinal, parish secretary.

"I don't think I ever imagined in my wildest dreams that I would ever see the Pope so close up. And so close to home", comments Aisha Oliveira.

Open Questions

How many faithful exactly participated in the tour?
What is the exact location of the Holy Mass in Uruguay?
Will there be more trips organized for future Pope visits?

Faithful from Rio Grande do Sul travel to Uruguay to see Pope Leo XIV

Hundreds of people left Guaíba and Santana do Livramento to attend the Holy Sunday Mass celebrated by the Pope in Uruguay

Quick Look

Hundreds of faithful from Rio Grande do Sul traveled to Uruguay to see Pope Leo XIV, who celebrates Holy Mass on Sunday in the country.
The tour departed from Guaíba, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, and faithful from Santana do Livramento also went to the border to follow the event.