Leo XIV will visit Uruguay in November, cardinal says

The cardinal also announced that the pontiff is expected to visit two key cities: Montevideo, located at the mouth of the Río de la Plata, and the inland city of Florida.

In the capital city of Montevideo, he could visit the Casavalle neighborhood, which is home to various Catholic social works. In Florida, he will likely pray at the National Shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the patroness of Uruguay.

A stop in the northern city of Paysandú, which has a significant Italian diaspora, is also being considered.

Uruguay is a small country nestled between Brazil and Argentina. It hasn’t hosted a pontiff since Pope John Paul II visited in 1987 and 1988. Pope Francis had envisioned a visit to the country at the end of his pontificate, paired with a trip to his native Argentina, but ultimately he was unable to go. On December 2, 2025, Pope Leo XIV declared his desire to travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

During a visit to the Vatican on June 18, outgoing Peruvian President José María Balcázar was the first to announce a November trip to Latin America. However, he claimed that Pope Leo XIV, who holds Peruvian citizenship, would spend eight to 10 days solely in the Andean republic, where he previously served as a missionary and bishop.

This fall, the Pope is expected to visit France from September 25 to 28. He is also scheduled to make a brief visit to the Republic of San Marino on August 22.