Tens of thousands of people filled the main square of Florida, Uruguay, on Sunday to see Pope Leo XIV celebrate Mass on the third day of his tour of South America.
The trip, which runs from November 6 to 17 and also takes in Argentina and Peru, is the longest of his papacy so far. It is also his first major overseas journey since he had lung cancer surgery a few weeks ago, an operation that had put the whole visit in doubt.
In Uruguay the Pope visited Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida. It is the first papal visit to the country since John Paul II in 1988. Uruguay has the lowest share of Catholics of any country in Latin America.
His next stop, Argentina, carries special meaning: it was the homeland of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who never returned there during his 12 years as pontiff. Leo is due in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján until November 11 before ending the tour in Peru, where he spent much of his career as a missionary and later served as Bishop of Chiclayo.