Pope Leo XIV concludes Uruguay visit, heads to Argentina

Pope Leo XIV concluded the first leg of his South American tour on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, after celebrating a final Mass in Florida, Uruguay. Tens of thousands of attendees gathered at the Plaza Asamblea, located in front of the Cathedral Basilica and the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, to hear the pontiff speak.

During his homily, the Pope addressed mothers and grandmothers, encouraging them to continue passing on their faith to younger generations. He noted that the history of peoples cannot be fully understood without reference to God, while also observing that many children no longer attend church or pray as they once did.

This trip marks the Pope's first major international visit since he underwent surgery on Oct. 13, 2026, to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. The event in Florida, a city with a population estimated between 40,000 and 60,000, drew crowds that some reports placed between 50,000 and 120,000 people.

Following the conclusion of his visit to Uruguay, the pontiff is traveling to Argentina for the second leg of his journey, which is scheduled to last from Nov. 8 through Nov. 11. The trip to Argentina is expected to include a meeting with President Javier Milei. The Pope's broader apostolic journey, which also includes a stop in Peru, is set to conclude on Nov. 17, 2026.