Pope Leo XIV condemns violence against children in Uruguay
The pope Leo XIV criticized violence against children during his visit to Casavalle, a poor neighborhood in Montevideo. He blessed 12 popular homes and asked for protection for the most vulnerable. The visit is part of a 12-day trip through South America.
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday condemned violence against children during a visit to Casavalle, a poor neighborhood of Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. The region is considered one of the most violent in the country and records frequent shootings related to drug trafficking. The pontiff arrived by car in the neighborhood and walked its streets under a strong security scheme, with thousands of police officers. The visit took place on the second day of a 12-day trip through South America.
During the meeting with residents in Guadeloupe’s parish Nossa Senhora, the pope said: “We cannot stand idly by when we know that a mother is not able to feed her own children.” The declaration reinforces the pope’s appeal for social justice and protection of children. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), four out of ten Uruguayan children live in poverty.
Historic visit to a neighborhood marked by violence
The presence of the Pope in Casavalle represents the first visit of a pontiff to Uruguay since 1988. The neighborhood, located on the outskirts of Montevideo, faces high crime rates. The homicide rate in Casavalle and the neighboring neighborhoods reaches 41.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to official data. The index is four times higher than the national average and is related to clashes between armed drug trafficking groups.
Residents report that the shootings are part of the routine. “Everything here is very unstable. The neighborhood goes from quiet to extremely violent in a matter of minutes," told AFP Claudia, a 33-year-old nurse who declined to reveal her last name for fear of reprisals. Violence has increased in recent years in Uruguay, which has become an important route for the transport of cocaine to the north. Traditionally, the country was considered one of the safest and most prosperous in Latin America.
The pope also condemned cases of violence that end in death. During the visit, he blessed 12 new popular villas built in Casavalle with funding from the Catholic Church. Residents hope the pope’s one-hour visit will help improve the situation.
Call for technology at the service of people
On Saturday, Leo XIV warned of the risks of dehumanization caused by artificial intelligence. He called on schools and universities to make responsible use of technology, putting people above algorithms. The alert comes in a global context of debates about the ethical impacts of AI.
The pontiff has addressed contemporary themes in his travels, seeking to connect the message of the Church with the current challenges. The talk about technology reinforces the concern about human dignity in the face of digital advancement.
60,000 gathered at the Centenary Stadium
In the evening, the pope attended a prayer vigil at the Centennial Stadium in Montevideo, in front of about 60,000 people. During the meeting, he encouraged the young people to marry and form families. The pope also asked that couples have children, even in the face of difficulties. “Open your homes to life, even when the world says a child is a burden,” he said.
The fertility rate in Latin America is falling. According to a recent study by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the average number of children per woman rose from 5.8 in 1950 to 1.8 in 2024. The Pope’s message seeks to reverse this trend by encouraging birth as a Christian value.
José Aguilar, a 56-year-old Venezuelan who has lived in Uruguay for four years, said he felt a "rebirth of faith" in the country. He said the pope addressed issues such as suicide, family and clean energy, which he said were important to the population. After the speech, the crowd repeated in chorus "Pope Leo, we want you in a pile!", under applause and whistles.
First Mass in Paysandú celebrates the tradition of mate
Earlier, in Paysandú, the pope celebrated the first mass of the trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. During the ceremony, he praised the mate, the traditional drink of the country, which, according to him, "teaches us to share and to be together". Leo XIV also asked the faithful to build bridges and transmit the joy of faith. Thousands of people followed the celebration with matte tails and thermal bottles in their hands. Paysandú is about 350 kilometers northwest of Montevideo.
The pope’s journey continues through Argentina and Peru, with the expectation of new messages about social justice, family and technology. The passage through Uruguay left a call for the protection of children and the overcoming of violence, central themes for the region.
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