The Archdiocese of Montevideo has ordered the suspension of Masses on the afternoon of Saturday the 7th and the morning of Sunday the 8th of November, on the occasion of the apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Uruguay. The measure, adopted by Cardinal Daniel Sturla, affects all churches in the archdiocese and seeks to encourage the faithful to take part in the activities scheduled during the Pontiff’s stay.
The decision appears in a communiqué from the Chancery and General Secretariat of the Archdiocese, dated 2 October 2026 and addressed to parish priests, parochial administrators and those responsible for communities and places of worship.
Masses suspended on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning
The document, signed by Father Mathias Soiza, chancellor and general secretary of the archdiocese, states that, in accordance with decree Prot. A. 66/26, Eucharistic celebrations are suspended at the indicated times.
“Masses on the afternoon of Saturday the 7th and the morning of Sunday the 8th of November 2026 are suspended in all churches of the Archdiocese,” the communiqué establishes.
The provision stipulates that Masses on Friday the 6th of November are left to the discretion of the person in charge of each place of worship, while celebrations on Sunday afternoon may continue at their usual times.
According to the Chancery, the measure aims “to facilitate the faithful’s participation in the encounters with the Holy Father and to allow the smooth running of the events.”
The suspension affects regular Sunday Masses
The decision is particularly significant because it covers both Saturday evening Masses and Sunday morning celebrations, the times at which many Catholics normally fulfil their Sunday obligation.
According to the programme of activities released for the papal visit, several meetings are planned in Montevideo on Saturday the 7th of November, including a visit to the social reality of Casavalle, a meeting with the educational community at the Catholic University of Uruguay and a prayer vigil at the Centenario Stadium.
For Sunday the 8th, the programme places the pontifical Eucharistic celebration at the National Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, in the diocese of Florida, outside the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Montevideo.
Therefore, the suspension of Masses in the capital is not due to a coincidence with a public Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Pope in the archdiocese itself, but to the stated purpose of facilitating participation in the activities of the visit.
A decision that raises pastoral questions
The widespread suspension of Eucharistic celebrations during a significant part of the weekend raises questions about the ordinary sacramental care of the faithful, especially those who cannot travel or take part in the planned events.
The communiqué does not specify whether exceptions have been made for particular communities or pastoral situations. Nor does it include a dispensation from the Sunday obligation, although it notes that Sunday afternoon Masses may be celebrated as usual.
The Archdiocese concludes by inviting the faithful to live the Pontiff’s visit “in a spirit of prayer and ecclesial communion” and to consult the specific guidelines for participating in the activities with their respective communities.