Pope Leo XIV concluded the opening day of his Apostolic Journey to Uruguay by celebrating Vespers at the Cathedral of Montevideo. Addressing the gathered bishops, priests, religious sisters, deacons, and seminarians inside the capital’s principal church, the Holy Father pointed to Blessed Jacinto Vera—Uruguay’s first bishop—as a shining model of Christian witness, emphasizing that “fidelity to our vocation requires returning again and again to Jesus Christ, letting Him be our treasure, the one we want to resemble.”
The Pontiff had arrived in Uruguay following a 13-hour flight from Rome, landing in Montevideo after departing early Friday morning. Upon his arrival, he was officially welcomed in Independence Square during a formal ceremony attended by Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and other state dignitaries. In his address to the authorities, Pope Leo XIV called for the defense of human life from conception to its natural end and urged the government to guarantee accessible healthcare for all citizens.
Following the civic ceremony, the Pope greeted enthusiastic crowds of Uruguayans from a specially adapted golf cart serving as a mini popemobile. During his tour through the city streets, he was presented with the keys to Montevideo and signed the municipal guest book, entrusting its residents to God while encouraging the community to let “peace, fraternity, and hope” flourish across the nation.