Pope Leo XIV lands in Uruguay on first Latin America trip
The pope began a 12-day tour that also takes him to Argentina and Peru, with his return to Rome set for Nov. 17.
Pope Leo XIV landed in Uruguay on Friday, starting his first tour of Latin America since becoming pontiff, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
The papal plane touched down at Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo at 4:30 p.m. local time after leaving Rome earlier that day, Uruguay's Foreign Ministry said.
At Plaza Independencia, the pope took part in an official welcome ceremony with President Yamandu Orsi and senior officials.
He later met officials, civil society members and diplomats, then held talks with Orsi at the Jose Artigas Building.
Leo also visited the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Philip and James, where he was scheduled to lead Vespers with clergy and members of religious orders.
The trip to Uruguay is the sixth international journey of his papacy, and it comes weeks after he underwent lung surgery in October.
Uruguay had not hosted a pope since John Paul II visited in 1988, and it is regarded as one of Latin America's most secular societies, with a long-standing separation between church and state.
During his stay, the pope is scheduled to celebrate Mass in Paysandu, visit the Casavalle neighborhood on the outskirts of Montevideo and attend a prayer vigil at Centenario Stadium.
He will celebrate Mass in the city of Florida on Sunday before flying to Buenos Aires, Argentina, the second stop on the tour.
From there, he will travel to Peru, where he is due to visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa before returning to Rome on Nov. 17.
Leo succeeded Pope Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires, so the tour takes him back to the region that shaped his predecessor.
