Pope Leo XIV says "be like a beacon pointing to the presence of Jesus Christ, offering everyone the light of God’s Word, the help of the Sacraments, the support of prayer" in Uruguay

On his second day in Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV traveled to the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the meeting with the social community of Casavalle, attended—according to local authorities—by approximately 12,000 people. The Holy Father, accompanied by His Eminence Cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, Archbishop of Montevideo, walked to some recently built homes, built with the support of the Parish and intended for families most in need. The Pope greeted several families in the courtyards of the homes. Leo XIV then drove to the area designated for the meeting and took his place on the stage.

After the meeting's introduction by the moderator, a greeting from the Cardinal Archbishop of Montevideo, and a welcoming address from the parish priest of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Father Pablo Coímbra, a video about the situation in Casavalle was shown to those present. A representative of the community of the Plácido Ellauri neighborhood , a young mother from the Marconi neighborhood, and a former student of the Liceo Jubilar San Juan Pablo II offered their testimonies.

At the end, Pope Leo XIV pronounced his greeting.

Subsequently, after the presentation of the gift, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the blessing, the conclusion of the meeting by the moderator and a final song, the Pope went to the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe to greet some of the nuns and the elderly people present, before leaving the building.

ENCOUNTER WITH THE SOCIAL REALITY OF CASAVALLE

FULL TEXT GREETING OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV

Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Montevideo)
Saturday, November 7, 2026
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An impromptu greeting from Pope Leo XIV to families residing in Casavalle:

God's blessing comes in many forms. Today we wish to ask for His blessing upon each family represented here, upon their loved ones, upon all the families who live here in this area.

A great blessing comes when we are gathered in community, when we learn to work together, to collaborate on a common project, and to affirm that life is important, that our faith sustains us, and that we want to be faithful to Jesus, our best friend.

May the Lord be with you. May the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, descend upon you. Amen.
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Address of the Holy Father

Dear brothers and sisters, good afternoon!

It is a great joy for me to visit this parish, this neighborhood, to walk the streets and see the work that has been done with such effort. Seeing you all, I feel at home, remembering my visits to different communities as a missionary. I thank Cardinal Daniel Sturla, Archbishop of Montevideo, Father Pablo Coimbra, parish priest of this community, and Mrs. Carmen Albana Sanz for their words of welcome; and all of you for being here today and for having prepared this meeting with such enthusiasm. I especially want to thank those who have shared their testimonies, opening their hearts to share with us the triumph of life, faith, and hope. Thank you to Angélica, Alan, and Katherine.

This parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe , whom my predecessors declared “ Patroness of Latin America ” and “ Empress of the Americas .” The loving presence of our Heavenly Mother on this continent invites us to look beyond the reality that surrounds us, to see beyond borders, and, raising our gaze, to open our hearts to eternal realities. Likewise, Mary teaches us to do what her Son Jesus tells us (cf. Jn 2:5), and this is the mission of parishes: to be like a beacon pointing to the presence of Jesus Christ, offering everyone the light of God’s Word, the help of the Sacraments, the support of prayer, and the balm of fraternal charity. In this parish community, a project has been undertaken to build several homes for low-income families. I am happy to have been able to contribute to this beautiful initiative through the benefactors of the Papal Foundation , to whom I sincerely express my gratitude for their generosity. May these homes be for your families much more than a roof over their heads: a true home where they can grow in dignity, peace and hope, always feeling the closeness and love of God.

I would like to share with you a story that Jesus told his disciples—you surely know it—I am referring to the parable of the Good Samaritan (cf. Lk 10:29-37). It tells of a man who “fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him of everything, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead” (v. 30). This was a very regrettable and unjust event. To the terrible attack suffered by the man on the road was added the pain caused by the indifference of those who, even seeing his need, passed him by (cf. vv. 31-32). But the story does not end there; a light of hope shines in the narrative: a Samaritan, seeing him, was moved with compassion, approached him, bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn, and offered the means necessary for his care and recovery (cf. vv. 33-35).

Dear brothers and sisters, we can see this story repeated many times today in the numerous cases of insecurity and violence that sadly threaten the peace of our neighborhoods, and even the lives of our loved ones, to which society so often responds with indifference. At the same time, we can see the other side, that is, the actions of numerous institutions and kind-hearted people who contribute to fostering peace and who help people to meet their needs in concrete ways. A shining example is the dedicated life of Father Cacho, who knew how to build bridges, tear down walls, and create encounters, as Angélica told us in her testimony.

We need to continue to believe in the charitable closeness of the Good Samaritan who, upon seeing the misfortune of others, was not indifferent, but took responsibility for his brother's life. We cannot turn a blind eye when we know that there are children in Uruguay who don't go to school for fear of not returning. We cannot silence our conscience when we see that a mother lacks the means to feed her children. We cannot ignore that there are many people around us who suffer, who are alone and vulnerable. We heard this firsthand, in Katherine's moving words. A child of this country, so rich in resources, should not go to bed hungry, nor should they have to forgo a decent education and a dignified future because of the insecurity that reigns in the streets. Much less should they suffer violence to the point of losing their life.

We must work together: the Church, civil society, and the State. We need to awaken from our inertia and advocate for the common good. This is the experience Alan has shared with us, offering freely what he has received. The decision to build a new city, in which no one is excluded, or to remain comfortably immersed in our own affairs, rests with us. Pope Francis told us that “the inclusion or exclusion of the person suffering on the side of the road defines all economic, political, social, and religious projects. Every day we face the choice of being good Samaritans or indifferent travelers who pass by” ( Encyclical Letter Fratelli tutti , 69).

The work of the Church springs from evangelical charity, “which impels her to approach the wounds of humanity at the moments when these are most acute. When she intervenes, she does so in imitation of the Good Samaritan, with discretion and closeness, aware that what arises from an immediate need cannot become the norm, nor replace the institutional responsibilities proper to the civil community” ( Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas , 21). Let us therefore unite our efforts and respond generously to the call to build together a homeland of brothers and sisters.

Dear friends, the parable of the Good Samaritan concludes with this commission from Jesus: “Go and do likewise” ( Lk 10:37). This is a commandment that every Christian should hear echoing in their heart each day (cf. Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te , 107). Let us allow these words to renew us and inspire us to continue building together a new city, where love and peace reign. May God bless you, and may Our Lady of Guadalupe, to whom I have a special affection and veneration, since I received episcopal ordination on her feast day, shelter you with her heavenly mantle. Thank you very much.