Pope Leo XIV visited Montevideo on Friday, the first stop of his Latin‑America tour that will also take him to Argentina and Peru. He called on bishops worldwide to organize prayer and fasting periods to encourage vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. The Pope arrived at the Metropolitan Cathedral in a golf cart that wound through the narrow streets of the old city, where thousands of people greeted him enthusiastically. He paused to receive the keys to the city before addressing the clergy. In his address, the Pope noted that Uruguay’s 1918 constitution established a separation of church and state. He cited statistics that 36 % of Uruguayans identify as Catholic, while 29 % consider themselves agnostic or atheist. He said that many young people in the country have grown up far from the life of the Church, yet the Church’s testimony remains powerful. “The way we look at others, how we listen, and how we approach those who suffer can prompt them to ask where that love comes from,” he said. He praised the Church’s work with the most vulnerable, noting that its love has reached many through the faithful who have witnessed generations grow and heard difficult confessions. The Pope highlighted the challenges of vocations in Uruguay, stating that the interdiocesan seminary received no new candidates in 2024. He also reported that several young people have begun their path in the seminary and in consecrated life, expressing gratitude for these new responses to Christ’s love. He urged bishops around the world to promote prayer and fasting in their dioceses to increase vocations. “May parishes, families, and religious communities unite in this plea,” he said. “Let the example of this land inspire others to pray with the same confidence.”
Article source: El Nuevo Diario | Image credit: El Nuevo Diario