Vatican Report | Saturday evening, 7 November 2026

Day 2 of the Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru: Leo XIV celebrated Mass in Paysandú in honour of Blessed Jacinto Vera, then in Montevideo met the people of Casavalle, the world of education at the Catholic University and some 70,000 young people at the vigil in the Centenario Stadium. ⛪ Mass in Paysandú The Pope took off from Montevideo-Carrasco at 8:37 a.m. local time (12:37 Rome) and landed in Paysandú at 9:38 a.m. (13:38 Rome), welcomed by crowds of faithful, some on horseback. In his homily at Parque París Londres he recalled Blessed Jacinto Vera, the first Bishop of Montevideo, and said: “How important it is to be builders of bridges! This is the vocation to which we are all called: to build bridges, strengthen bonds, unite, communicate, pass on the joy of faith.” Then: “Today it is our turn to carry on the legacy these sowers of the Gospel left us” (our translation). After Mass he stopped at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, spoke off the cuff to the faithful, unveiled a plaque marking the visit and greeted and embraced people with disabilities. He flew back to Montevideo in the early afternoon (around 1:35 p.m. local, 17:35 Rome, according to Subrayado). 🏘️ Casavalle In the evening the Pope walked through Casavalle, a poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of Montevideo, with Cardinal Daniel Sturla. Meeting the social reality of the area, he recalled the parable of the Good Samaritan against indifference: “We cannot pass by when we know that in Uruguay there are children who do not go to school for fear of never coming back” (Vatican News). He asked the Church, civil society and the State to join forces to “build together a homeland of brothers and sisters.” 🎓 The world of education At the Catholic University of Uruguay, greeted with the “Tu es Petrus”, Leo XIV proposed a “walk” through the five senses and asked that contemplation have “a privileged place” in teaching. Then his appeal: “Human life must be respected in all its stages and in all its conditions. No one deserves to be rejected” (our translation). 🙏 Vigil with young people At the Centenario Stadium the Pope told young people that Christ did not call us to mediocrity but to a new and full life like his own, hoping those who see them would ask where their freedom comes from (Vatican News). On secularisation and Bethlehem: “Let us not identify smallness with insignificance” (our translation). He led the Our Father in Spanish and closed with the Apostolic Blessing; according to CatholicSat some 70,000 young people were there, chanting “Papa León, te queremos un montón.” 📄 Holy See Today's Bulletin carries the appointments of Juan Gabriel Díaz Ruiz as Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, Pierre Laurent Jubinville as Bishop of San Lorenzo (Paraguay) and Victor Luis Quematcha as Bishop of Bissau, and the resignation of Leopoldo C. Jaucian from Bangued, Philippines (B0878). B0879 covers the journey day in Paysandú. 📌 To watch • Sunday 8 November, 2:30 p.m. Rome time: Holy Mass in front of the Cathedral of Florida • 7:10 p.m. Rome: farewell to Uruguay; 7:30 p.m. flight to Buenos Aires, arrival at Aeroparque 8:30 p.m. • Evening in Buenos Aires (Rome time): San Martín Monument 9:00 p.m., welcome at the Casa Rosada 9:20 p.m., visit to the President 9:50 p.m., address to the authorities 10:30 p.m. • Return to Rome Tuesday 17 November at 10:25 a.m. Photo: Vatican Media