Uruguay, with its strong democratic tradition, is one of the most secularised countries in Latin America. Yet, behind the decline in religious practice, a widespread Church that is close to the people continues to thrive, present in the urban peripheries, in education, in social advancement and in supporting families. It was in this context that Pope Leo XIV came for a short but intense trip.<br/>Maria Florencia Decarlini, a Focolarina in Montevideo, told us, “The percentage of Catholics in Uruguay is very low, yet the Pope’s visit aroused extraordinary interest, even among people who do not profess the Catholic faith and who do not attend Church.”

From the moment of his arrival, the Pope emphasised the importance of encounter and dialogue. Maria Florencia continued, “He engaged with the cultural roots of the Uruguayan people, highlighting their virtues and pointing out the areas where improvement and growth are needed. He understood the suffering that afflicts our society and our Church, offering us words of encouragement and consolation, making us feel that we are not alone, that his shepherd’s heart is with us.”

Mass in Paysandú: Building Bridges

One of the most significant moments was the celebration of Mass in Parque París Londres in Paysandú. Before thousands of worshippers, Leo XIV used the image of the bridge that connects the two banks of the Uruguay River, turning it into a metaphor for the Christian vocation.

He said, “…it is so important to be builders of bridges! This is the vocation to which we are all called: to build bridges, strengthen bonds, unite, communicate and share the joy of faith”. His appeal recalls the charism of unity which members of the Focolare try to live out daily in many areas of society. In the same homily, the Pontiff referred to “mate”, the traditional drink that is an iconic part of Uruguayan culture, “a sign of familiarity, friendship and encounter. It teaches us to share and to be together, strengthening the bonds that unite us as brothers and sisters.” The Focolare community in Paysandú said, “The Pope’s visit to Paysandú exceeded all our expectations. It was very moving. The Mass was wonderful, very simple, very much our style”.

In the Borro neighbourhood: the Church alongside the most marginalised

The visit to the Borro neighbourhood in the Casavalle area, one of Montevideo’s most socially disadvantaged areas, was particularly moving. Here, the Pope wanted to meet a Church that works quietly among vulnerable families, children and the elderly, through schools, educational centres and charitable initiatives.

The choice of this stop highlighted an essential dimension of the Church’s mission: to stand alongside those who live in situations of poverty and marginalisation. Here too, the work of many ecclesial organisations, including the Focolare Movement through the “Nueva Vida” project, which offers after-school care to children and teenagers, is part of the social fabric, promoting relationships of reciprocity and solidarity, helping to rebuild bonds that are often damaged by exclusion.

The Vigil at the Estadio Centenario: a People on a Journey

On the evening of 7th November, thousands of people gathered in the historic Estadio Centenario for a huge prayer vigil, attended by sixty thousand people, one of the central events of the apostolic visit.

The meeting was a strong sign of communion for a Church that is geographically dispersed and a numerical minority. Young people, families, members of religious orders, ecclesial movements and representatives of the country’s various communities shared a moment of prayer and reflection, expressing their desire to play an active role in building a more united and fraternal society. The Pope said, “May Christ truly enter into what you do, what you love, what you choose, even into those parts of your life that no one sees. “Be saints!”

For many members of the Focolare Movement present, the vigil was also an opportunity to renew their commitment to building bonds of universal fraternity, helping to spread the “culture of encounter” repeatedly referred to by the Church’s Magisterium.

Florida: Faith Nurtured by Families

The visit ended in Florida, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, the Patroness of Uruguay, a place deeply connected to the country’s religious roots and national history.

In his homily at the concluding Mass, Leo XIV addressed particularly heartfelt words to the women who have kept the faith alive in Uruguayan families. “Thank you for having believed and for having kept open a path to God in so many families,” he said, encouraging mothers and grandmothers never to tire of their educational and spiritual mission.

His words struck a particular chord in a country where many Christian communities continue to thrive thanks to the discreet and persevering witness of families.

A Seed for the Future

Pope Leo XIV’s visit left Uruguay with a simple yet challenging message: to build bridges, to care for the most vulnerable, to nurture faith in families and to strengthen fraternity among people.

Decarlini concluded, “I believe that all of us, whether we belong to the Catholic Church or not, have experienced his great closeness, drawn by the simplicity and strength of his personality. His appeal rings out powerfully: ‘Do not tire of passing on the faith’. “It is remarkable to see how his presence in these days has helped to strengthen those who were losing heart and to awaken in many people around us a desire for a life in God. It has also borne witness to the fact that unity is possible and that the Gospel can still generate bonds of communion and hope in our Uruguayan society”.

Carlos Mana, with the Southern Cone Communication Services
Photos: Southern Cone Communications Services and stills from television broadcasts