Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First South American Mass
The Mass in Paysandú, Uruguay, drew a large crowd on a rainy Saturday as part of a three-nation South American tour.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Catholicism
Pope Leo XIV held his first Mass in South America on Saturday in Paysandú, Uruguay, at Parque París Londres. The Vatican said roughly 40,000 people attended, including more than 30,000 who registered in advance.
Why it matters
The Mass marks the first stop of the pontiff's three-nation South American tour, a region with a large Catholic population. Paysandú was chosen for its accessible location on the Uruguay River, which borders Argentina.
The Vatican reported about 40,000 attendees, with over 30,000 registered in advance and another 10,000 attending beyond registration. Paysandú sits about 375 kilometers (230 miles) from Montevideo, Uruguay's capital.
The players
Pope Leo XIV
The current head of the Catholic Church, leading his first Mass in South America on this tour.
The details
Pope Leo XIV arrived by plane and rode to the venue in an open-sided popemobile through rain and gray skies. The Mass was held in Parque París Londres in Paysandú, a city of Uruguay's river border with Argentina.
Timeline
Oct. 13: Pope Leo XIV underwent lung cancer surgery.
Saturday: Pope Leo XIV held Mass in Paysandú, Uruguay.
Season Trajectory
The tour follows Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer surgery on Oct. 13, signaling a return to demanding public travel. Large regional Masses like this one have long been a central way popes connect with Catholics in Latin America.
Travelers hoping to attend papal events on this tour should expect large crowds and advance registration, as more than 30,000 people signed up for the Paysandú Mass. Weather can change quickly, as the Saturday event took place under rain and blustery skies.
The takeaway
A papal visit of this scale shows how Catholic communities in smaller river cities can draw tens of thousands of people. Readers interested in the church's global reach can follow similar events across the region.
Further reading
For more on the church's global events, see Catholicism.
