Pope Leo XIV presided this Saturday, November 7, at the Paris-London Park in Paysandú, Uruguay, over the first Mass of his apostolic journey through South America, before some 40,000 faithful who had come from Uruguay and neighboring countries. The celebration was a votive Mass of Blessed Jacinto Vera, bishop of Montevideo, and took place on the second day of his stay in the country, following the speech in Montevideo in defense of the unborn.
In his homily, published by Vatican News, the Pope structured his message around three images typical of the region: the bridge, the palm groves, and mate. He began with the international bridge that connects Paysandú with the Argentine shore of the Uruguay River, exclaiming: “How important it is to be a bridge-builder!” He added that every Christian is called to be one and that, to do so, good foundations are needed—that is, a solid Christian formation.
Palm groves and mate as an image of community
Pope Leo XIV then turned to the palm groves: “We see that in this region the palm trees do not grow in isolation,” he noted, presenting them as a figure of a community with deep roots, grounded in Christ and united in fraternity. He cited the Word of God, the sacraments, prayer, and charity as common sources of that life.
Regarding mate, he stated that “it is a sign of familiarity, friendship, and encounter,” a gesture of welcome that, he said, can also be enjoyed in solitude as a moment of prayer. Along these lines, he invited Uruguayans to be a praying community that dialogues with the Lord “as one friend speaks to another friend.”
Blessed Jacinto Vera, witness of the faith
The Pontiff proposed Blessed Jacinto Vera as a model, presenting him as a consistent witness of the faith, devoted to charity and mission, who traveled the Uruguayan territory on three occasions. He also recalled that “faith has been part of the Uruguayan people since their origins.”
At the end of the homily, he issued a concrete call: to form children and young people in the faith, accompany families, support the elderly, and practice charity. “Christ counts on you! Christ counts on you!” he exclaimed, before entrusting the Uruguayan people to the Virgin of the Thirty-Three.
The Mass in Paysandú was celebrated during a twelve-day journey through Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru which, as InfoVaticana reported, began on Friday with the Pope’s departure from Fiumicino.