Pope Leo XIV arrived in Florida, Uruguay, to celebrate Mass and conclude the Uruguay leg of his 12-day South American tour. During his visit to the city north of Montevideo, the Pope addressed a crowd estimated by the Vatican at 50,000 people. He focused his remarks on the historical role of the Catholic Church in Uruguay, a nation known for its secular governance, and praised the efforts of mothers and grandmothers in maintaining religious traditions across generations.
The visit to Florida coincided with the feast of the Virgin of the Thirty-three, a statue historically associated with Uruguay's 1825 declaration of independence from the Brazilian empire. Pope Leo XIV is the first pontiff to visit Uruguay in nearly 40 years. In his homily, he stated that the history of nations cannot be fully understood without reference to God and urged families to continue passing on their faith.
The Pope is scheduled to travel next to Argentina, where he will be met by President Javier Milei. This segment of the journey follows public disagreements between the Catholic Church and the Milei administration over fiscal policy and artificial intelligence. While the Argentine government, represented by Secretary-General Karina Milei, has stated the trip is purely religious, the visit comes as the Church has criticized the administration's austerity program.
Approximately 15 million people in Argentina are currently living in poverty, representing 32.3% of the population as of the first half of 2026. These residents are affected by President Milei's austerity program, which has included a 48% real-terms cut to the healthcare budget since December 2023. Low-income families and students, who recently protested cuts to the public university system, are watching to see if the Pope's focus on the "poor and vulnerable" influences the government's approach to social spending.
The visit also highlights differing views on technology. President Milei has courted artificial intelligence (AI) investment by promising limited regulation. In contrast, Pope Leo XIV has called for strict, internationally policed safeguards on AI development, citing risks to humanity and the environment.
Pope Leo XIV will participate in a traditional welcome ceremony and exchange speeches with President Milei upon arrival in Buenos Aires. The trip will conclude with a final leg in Peru, where the Pope previously served as a missionary for two decades. Security remains a priority following an announcement by Argentina's state intelligence agency on Saturday that a federal court in Campana ordered the arrest of an individual in connection with death threats made against the pontiff.