Pope Leo Calls for South American Unity During Historic Visit to Uruguay-Argentina Border
Pope Leo XIV visits Paysandu to urge South American nations to bridge deep political divides during his landmark 12-day regional tour.
POLICY WIRE — Paysandu, Uruguay — Pope Leo called on the people of South America to heal national rifts during a massive gathering held on the border shared between Uruguay and Argentina on Saturday.
The 71-year-old pontiff is currently undertaking an ambitious 12-day journey across the region, scheduled to conclude on November 17, navigating a landscape marked by significant political tensions. For Saturday’s event, Leo traveled approximately 378 kilometers (235 miles) to reach the border region.
This visit marks the first time a pope has set foot in Uruguay since 1988. Upon his arrival in Paysandu, the Pope greeted a massive crowd from the popemobile before heading to Parque Paris Londres to celebrate Mass.
Addressing tens of thousands of followers, Leo emphasized the need for neighboring nations to close existing gaps and foster fraternity. His appearance follows a period of recovery for the leader, who underwent lung cancer surgery in October.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)em>
