Paysandú (Uruguay) (AFP) – Pope Leo

Published on: 07/11/2026 - 15:34

He spoke of three symbols of the region "which can help us reflect on the treasure of faith."

“The first is the bridge, the second the palm groves and the third the mate,” said Leo

The sovereign pontiff called for "building bridges, strengthening ties, uniting, communicating" and transmitting the faith "to future generations with creative courage", in front of a crowd of 40,000 people, according to local authorities.

According to a 2026 survey by Latinobarómetro, only 35% of Uruguayans identify as Catholic, placing the country last in the region. Paraguay and Mexico top the ranking, with 82% and 69% Catholics respectively.

“We must be well prepared to give the reasons for our faith to all those who ask us for them and not allow ourselves to be carried away by all kinds of foreign doctrines,” Leo XIV asked the faithful who braved the morning drizzle and settled in the park, under a cloudy sky, with beach chairs, raincoats and mate.

Mate “teaches us sharing and life in community, to strengthen the bonds that unite us and bring us closer like brothers,” the pope said. “It is a symbol of integration, welcome and common values.”

“Mate has even reached Rome!” he exclaimed, triggering laughter from the crowd.

"It's a unique experience, difficult to explain. You feel something magnificent. And if it rains, we're still there," said Adela Giles, 56, who traveled 50 kilometers to see the pope with her 81-year-old mother.

Near the barriers, in the hope of seeing the popemobile pass, Alicia Arauco enthusiastically waved an Argentine flag. Coming from Concordia, she had spent the night in the park. “I came to Salto during John Paul II’s visit in 1988. I was 21 years old. Today, I brought my son, who is also 21 years old,” she said.

© 2026 AFP

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