Madar (International) - Pope Leo XIV arrived in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the start of a 12-day tour that will also take him to Argentina and Peru, his first trip to Latin America as pope, Al Jazeera English reported, citing AFP and AP.
The papal plane landed at Carrasco International Airport at 4:30 pm local time (19:30 GMT) after a 13-hour flight from Rome, Anadolu Agency reported, citing Uruguay's Foreign Ministry. The first day's programme included an official welcome ceremony at Plaza Independencia with President Yamandu Orsi, followed by talks with him at the Jose Artigas building.
It is the first papal visit to Uruguay since John Paul II in 1988. The country is described as the region's least Catholic and most secular. Crowds of faithful gathered on the Montevideo waterfront before his arrival.
The 71-year-old pope told reporters he felt "fairly good". "I know some people were doubtful about this trip taking place," he said on the plane, adding that he had never doubted it had to go ahead and crediting "wonderful medical assistance". He underwent surgery on October 13 to remove a cancerous tumour and was cleared to travel after a 14-day convalescence.
The three days in Uruguay, until Sunday, November 8, include a visit to the Casavalle neighbourhood on the outskirts of Montevideo, a prayer vigil at Centenario Stadium and masses in Paysandu and Florida, for which tickets sold out quickly. The tour then moves to Buenos Aires and on to Peru, with stops in Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa, before the pope returns to Rome on November 17, according to Anadolu.
Leo served as a missionary in Peru for almost two decades, and his programme there includes a private visit to a chapel he helped rebuild in Chiclayo, his former diocese. It is his sixth international trip as pope.
