Pope Leo XIV criticized, this Saturday (7), violence against children during a visit to Casavalle, a poor neighborhood in Montevideo, capital of Uruguay. The region is considered one of the most violent in the country and records frequent shootings related to drug trafficking.
The pontiff arrived in the neighborhood by car and walked through its streets under tight security, with thousands of police officers. The visit took place on the second day of a 12-day trip to South America.
"We cannot ignore that there are children in Uruguay who stop going to school for fear of not returning home," said Leo XIV. The speech was given on a stage set up outdoors, next to the Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe parish.
Violence and poverty
"We cannot sit idly by when we know that a mother is unable to feed her own children," said the pope.
"A child in this country, so rich in resources, should not go to bed hungry. Nor should they be denied access to education and a dignified future because of insecurity on the streets," he added.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), four in ten Uruguayan children live in poverty.
The pontiff also condemned cases of violence that end in death. During the visit, he blessed 12 new affordable homes built in Casavalle with financing from the Catholic Church.
The homicide rate in Casavalle and neighboring neighborhoods reaches 41.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to official data. The rate is four times higher than the national average and is related to clashes between armed drug trafficking groups.
Violence has increased in recent years in Uruguay, which has become an important route for transporting cocaine north. Traditionally, the country was considered one of the safest and most prosperous in Latin America.
Residents of Casavalle say that shootings are part of the neighborhood's routine.
"Everything here is very unstable. The neighborhood goes from peaceful to extremely violent in a matter of minutes," Claudia, a 33-year-old nurse who did not want to reveal her surname for fear of reprisals, told AFP.
"Seeing a homicide on your doorstep is terrible. A motorcycle stopped in front of my house and they shot someone several times. You don't know what to do when your children see a body lying on the ground," he reported.
Residents hope the pope's hour-long visit will help improve the situation.
"In 62 years of life, I have never seen the sidewalks so clean and so much security. The neighborhood has become calmer," said Mario Tabárez, owner of a painting shop two blocks from the parish.
Marriage and artificial intelligence
Also this Saturday, Leo XIV warned of the risks of dehumanization caused by artificial intelligence. He called on schools and universities to make responsible use of technology, putting people above algorithms.
In the evening, the pope participated in a prayer vigil at the Centenario Stadium, in Montevideo, in front of around 60,000 people. During the meeting, he encouraged young people to get married and start families.
"Young people, have the courage to take this step, getting married and starting a family. Don't be afraid of 'forever'!", he stated.
The pontiff also asked couples to have children, even in the face of difficulties. "Open your homes to life, even when the world says that a child is a burden," he said.
The fertility rate in Latin America is falling. According to a recent study by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the average number of children per woman increased from 5.8 in 1950 to 1.8 in 2024.
"Having the pope among us is a great achievement," said Cardinal Daniel Sturla, archbishop of Montevideo, during the meeting.
José Aguilar, a 56-year-old Venezuelan who has lived in Uruguay for four years, said he feels a "rebirth of faith" in the country. He highlighted that the pope addressed topics such as suicide, family and clean energy, issues that, according to him, are important for the population.
"This is a pope who can really connect with people," said Eliana Mrak, who had already seen the pontiff this year in Madrid and Barcelona.
After the speech, the crowd repeated in chorus "Papa Leo, we want you so much!", amidst applause and whistles.
Earlier, in Paysandú, the pope celebrated the first mass of the trip through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. During the ceremony, he praised mate, the country's traditional drink, which, according to him, "teaches us to share and be together."
Leo XIV also asked the faithful to build bridges and transmit the joy of faith. Thousands of people attended the celebration with gourds of mate and thermoses in their hands. Paysandú is about 350 kilometers northwest of Montevideo.
Uruguay is the most secular country in Latin America. Only 35% of the population declares themselves Catholic, according to a 2026 survey by Latinobarómetro.
On Sunday (8), the Pope will visit the Uruguayan city of Florida. Afterwards, he will head to Argentina, the country of origin of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
