Pope Leo XIV begins 12-day trip to South America via Uruguay, Latin country with the lowest percentage of Catholics

We are here in front of the Montevideo Cathedral. At this moment, there is great joy among the crowd, because the Pope is leaving the cathedral at this moment. He has now, at this moment, finished celebrating Vespers. It is the end of the day prayer in Catholic ritual. The Pope had an intense agenda today here in Montevideo. This ceremony was reserved for religious men and women, priests and bishops, but a screen was installed in front so that everyone could see what was happening inside. The plane carrying Pope Leo XIV landed at Montevideo airport at 4:20 pm, Brasília time. Fifteen minutes later, the pope disembarked and was welcomed on the tarmac by the president of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi. The pope traveled part of the way to the city center in the popemobile, greeting people waiting on the side of the road. In Praça Independência, the first of around 30 speeches that Leo XIV will give throughout this trip. In front of the authorities, he began by celebrating 40 years of uninterrupted democracy in Uruguay. The climate of respect and coexistence between left and right here is also cited as one of the reasons that made the so-called "Pope of Dialogue" choose Uruguay to open this trip. Leo XIV is a strong defender of the Church's social doctrine. The Pope, who had recently undergone surgery, recalled that so many men and women in the world do not have access to the necessary health treatments and recalled that ensuring care for everyone is the obligation of the entire society", said reporter Pedro Bassan.