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Pope Leo begins three-country South American tour in Uruguay
Pope Leo begins three-country South American tour in Uruguay
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Montevideo to begin a 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, three weeks after surgery for lung cancer.
The Vatican estimated that about 30,000 people gathered along the route and at the opening ceremony. Leo, 71, met President Yamandú Orsi at Plaza Independencia and later presided over evening prayers at Montevideo Cathedral.
In his address, Leo praised Uruguay’s development and called on the state to protect human dignity and provide care through the natural end of life, language reflecting Catholic opposition to euthanasia. Uruguay legalised assisted dying in 2025 and is widely regarded as Latin America’s most secular country.
The pope said he had been confident the trip would proceed despite doubts about his health. He underwent surgery on October 13 to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. After Uruguay, he is due to visit Argentina and Peru, where he spent two decades as a missionary bishop.
M.Johnson--SMC
