Pope Leo Condemns Drug Violence In Uruguay

Pope Leo XIV has condemned the deaths of children in areas of wealthy Uruguay affected by drug violence during a visit to the country’s most crime-ridden neighbourhood.

The Pope spoke on Saturday during a visit to Casavalle, one of the most crime-hit neighbourhoods in the capital, Montevideo. The area has a murder rate four times higher than the national average, while residents say gunfire is heard almost every night.

“There are children in Uruguay who do not go to school for fear of never returning home,” Leo said.

“In a country as rich in resources as this, children should never have to go to bed hungry… Much less should they have to suffer violence to the point of losing their lives,” he added.

The visit came as Uruguay faces rising violence linked to its growing role in Latin America’s cocaine trade. Rival gangs have carried out attacks as they fight for control of drug routes, pushing up the country’s murder rate.

During the visit, Katherine Silva, a young mother, told the Pope about the violence and abuse she experienced as a child. She said she became homeless at 15, went through “very dark times” and “nearly died” before a Catholic family helped her.

A 33-year-old nurse, Claudia, also described the violence in her neighbourhood. Speaking to AFP, she recalled seeing a motorcyclist stop outside her home and shoot someone repeatedly.

“You don’t know what to do when your children see a body lying there. It’s become very normalized,” she said.

Despite the security concerns, residents welcomed the Pope with cheers and waves as police helicopters flew overhead. During the visit, Leo blessed 12 new low-income homes financed by the Catholic Church.

“Being here with you makes me feel at home, and brings back memories of the visits I made to various communities as a missionary,” he told the crowd.

Some residents said they hoped the visit would encourage lasting change. Federico Castro said he wanted the Pope’s message to help people who had made wrong choices.

“I’ve stopped walking those paths of evil and death,” he said, crediting his faith for changing his life.

Poverty also remains a major concern. According to UNICEF, about four in 10 children and adolescents in Uruguay live in poverty. Earlier on Saturday, Leo urged Catholics in the largely secular country to become “bridge builders” for the faith.

Latin America remains the world’s most Catholic region. However, the share of people who identify as Catholic has fallen from 80 per cent to 55 per cent over the past 30 years, according to a Latinobarómetro poll.

The Pope also visited the northwestern city of Paysandú, where he paid tribute to the local tradition of sharing mate, a herbal drink served in a gourd with a metal straw.

“Mate teaches us to share and be together,” he told thousands of people gathered to welcome him. He also joked that the drink had “made its way to Rome”.

Leo’s 12-day South American tour comes just three weeks after he underwent surgery for lung cancer. The 71-year-old pontiff began the trip after serving nearly two decades as a missionary in the region.

On Friday, he called for universal healthcare during the first speech of his tour. He said his own cancer diagnosis had made him think about people who do not receive timely medical attention.

The US-born Pope faced uncertainty about the trip after his diagnosis. However, he told journalists aboard his flight from Rome to Montevideo that he was “in fairly good shape”.

Leo is expected to travel to Argentina on Sunday, the home country of the late Pope Francis, before continuing to Peru, where he previously served as a bishop.