Pope honors women, addresses faith, violence in Uruguay visit

Pope Leo XIV concluded his visit to Uruguay on Sunday with a tribute to women, urging them to continue passing on the Catholic faith to younger generations. He acknowledged the challenges they face, noting that while they once taught their children to pray and attended Mass together, many of those children no longer practice their faith.

“Mothers and grandmothers: never tire of passing on the faith!” he said, encouraging them not to lose hope. The Pope traveled to Florida, a city north of Montevideo, to celebrate the feast day of the Virgin of the Thirty-three, a major local Catholic event.

In his homily, Pope Leo addressed gender-based violence, a critical issue in Latin America. The region has recorded nearly 20,000 femicides over the past five years, most committed by current or former partners. He called on men to treat their wives with respect.

This visit was the first by a pope to Uruguay in nearly four decades, as the nation has grown increasingly secular. Pope Leo stressed the importance of living one’s faith openly, stating, “We must live our faith with courage, not be afraid to say: I am a Christian, I am a Catholic, I believe in Jesus Christ.”

He added that God’s grace multiplies, broadens horizons, and enriches lives, giving them new purpose.

The Pope also expressed sorrow over the attack in Krakow, stating he was “deeply saddened.”

Later on Sunday, Pope Leo arrived in Buenos Aires, where Argentine President Javier Milei welcomed him at the Casa Rosada. The visit carries political weight, as the Catholic Church has criticized Milei’s austerity measures, which cut social spending, and his support for artificial intelligence.

Milei’s policies aim to reform Argentina’s struggling economy and achieve a budget surplus. He has dismissed social justice as “an aberration” and labeled concerns about families suffering under his austerity program as “huge stupidity.”

For Argentine Catholics, the visit holds deep spiritual significance.