Pope Leo XIV Moves to Argentina After Uruguay Visit

Pope Leo XIV concluded his visit to Uruguay on Sunday, November 8, before departing for Argentina to begin the second phase of his South American tour. The pontiff celebrated the feast of the Virgin of the Thirty-three in Florida, a city located north of Montevideo, marking the first time a pope has visited Uruguay in nearly four decades.

The Vatican estimated that 50,000 people attended the Mass in Florida's main square. This crowd was larger than the city's total population of approximately 40,000. Tens of thousands of faithful filled the area under clear skies, with some traveling several kilometers to reach the site. The gathering followed a tradition dating to August 25, 1825, when 33 independence patriots were said to possess a Guaraní statue during the declaration of independence from the Brazilian empire.

In his homily at Florida's cathedral, Leo addressed the women who have maintained Catholic traditions in Uruguay, a nation that has developed a secular identity over the last century. He acknowledged the difficulty of passing on faith in a changing society. Leo told the mothers and grandmothers present that they should not tire of sharing their beliefs. He noted that many of their children no longer pray or attend Mass, but he urged them to continue their efforts without despair.

Fiama Pirez, an English professor, traveled from Montevideo to Florida for the ceremony. She stated that she preferred the smaller setting so her mother could see a pope, fulfilling a long-held wish. Pirez described her own experience as a rediscovery of her Catholic faith. She noted that while she had never strayed far from the religion, the trip allowed her to reconnect with it in a personal way.

Leo's arrival in Argentina coincides with a period of economic tension under President Javier Milei. Milei is scheduled to greet the pope at the airport in Buenos Aires before they appear together for a welcome ceremony. The Argentine government has implemented austerity measures that have reduced social spending. Official data shows that poverty in Argentina reached 32.3% of the population in the first half of 2026, affecting about 15 million people.

The Catholic Church in Argentina has criticized Milei's policies, including a 48% reduction in the healthcare budget in real terms and plans to cut funding for public universities. Milei's government has defended the cuts as necessary reforms to fix the economy. Karina Milei, the president's sister and secretary-general, told reporters that the papal visit is purely religious. She stated that the pope belongs to all Argentines and does not represent a specific political camp.

Argentina's state intelligence agency announced on Saturday that a person was arrested following death threats against Leo. A federal court in Campana, located 70 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, ordered the arrest within 24 hours of receiving the tip. Leo is expected to continue his ministry in the style of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who never returned to Argentina during his 12-year pontificate.