Pope Leo XIV has called on some 70,000 people at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo to make a life in Christ their highest goal. The organizers cited the figure of 70,000 participants; no independent count is available. The Pope warned against being satisfied with a merely decent or habitual faith, urging instead that people strive for holiness. The gathering took place on Saturday, November 7, as part of the Pope's visit to Uruguay.
The stadium was built in 1930 for the first FIFA World Cup and has been designated by FIFA as a football heritage site. A venue built for sport now provided the setting for a large religious assembly. Cardinal Daniel Sturla, Archbishop of Montevideo, also spoke about the special significance of this place for the city and the country.
In his message, the Pope described saints as people who overflow with life in Christ. He emphasized the Eucharist and encouraged the faithful to adore Christ in the tabernacles. A world without God, he warned, leaves no place for humanity. He particularly addressed young people, urging them to marry and start families without fear of commitment.
During the event, personal testimonies were also shared. A 22-year-old woman recounted how she encountered the faith at a university chapel and subsequently was baptized. A married couple with five children shared their family's story with the assembly. These testimonies were thus directly connected to the Pope's message about family and personal devotion.
Uruguay is considered the most secularized country in Latin America and has a low birth rate. Against this backdrop, the Pope's appeal to young couples carries additional weight, as it is directed at a society in which religious ties have become less common.
Among the listeners were former parishioners from Chiclayo in Peru, who knew Leo XIV when he was still bishop of their diocese. Their presence shows the personal connection the Pope brings from his earlier time in Peru. The trip thus returns him to part of his former field of service.
The visit to Uruguay began on Saturday morning with a Mass in Paysandú attended by about 40,000 people. In the afternoon, the Pope visited the Casavalle neighborhood and delivered an address at the Catholic University of Uruguay. On November 8, a Mass in honor of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, patroness of Uruguay, whose veneration is closely tied to the country's history, is scheduled.
From Uruguay the journey continues to Argentina, which the Pope will visit from November 8 to 11. Peru is then scheduled from November 11 to 16. These stages continue a dense travel itinerary in a region where the Church is seeking to attract young believers and new families.