On his second day in Uruguay, Pope Leo, seeking to convey his Gospel message to the people of the most secular state of Latin America, used three symbols familiar to everyone: the bridge, the palm groves and the mate drink.
He did so in a homily in which he reminded the country’s 3.4 million inhabitants, a third of whom are Catholic, that “faith, too, has been part of the life of the Uruguayan people since their earliest days, and it must be passed on to future generations with creative courage.”
He said this and much more in his homily to the 40,000 faithful gathered at his Mass at Parque Paris Londres, the main park in Paysandú, under grey skies that threatened rain on a cold and windy Saturday morning.
He arrived at Paysandú—a city on the left bank of the River Uruguay that marks the border with Argentina—aboard a Uruguayan Air Force plane, as the airport here is too small for bigger planes.
Pope Leo, wearing a white overcoat to ensure he did not get a cold so soon after his operation for cancer, looked rested and was in great form as he waved from the popemobile when he drove among the cheering crowd. Most of those in attendance were Uruguayans, though many had crossed the river from Argentina to see and pray with the pope.
Wearing green vestments, he delivered his homily in a strong, joyful voice from under a covered platform.
He recalled that from the earliest days of evangelization on this continent “many people of faith” arrived in the Rio de la Plata region and, like the angels at Bethlehem, “they arrived in the name of the Lord to proclaim the great joy they themselves had experienced in encountering Christ, and expressed their faith through works of charity and mercy.”
He recalled Blessed Jacinto Vera, Bishop of Montevideo (1813-1881), known as “the gaucho” bishop, who traveled on horseback across the country three times, in all kinds of weather, giving witness to the faith and caring for the sick, the refugees and the wounded on both sides in the Uruguayan conflict in the 1800s, and giving hope to people.
The Augustinian missionary pope reminded those present that as followers of Christ we are called to “build bridges” between people, “strengthen bonds, unite, communicate and share the joy of faith.” Like the palm tree “that can withstand strong winds, has deep roots, rises straight toward the sky in search of light, and produces the sweet yatay fruit,” Leo said, as believers “we are called: to take root in Christ…the Beginning and the End of our lives, so that, by remaining united to him, we may bear good fruit.”
At the same time, he said, just as the palm trees in this region “do not stand alone, but form groves” so too “the church is a community of brothers and sisters that sinks its roots and draws from a common spring: the word of God, the sacraments, prayer and charitable works.” They applauded enthusiastically when he mentioned the mate and then again when the first pope ever to come to Paysandù finished speaking. It was clear he had connected with them in a homily that was televised nationwide in this secular state.
Before taking the plane back to Montevideo, he made a brief visit to the city’s Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, prayed there and, speaking off the cuff, greeted the hundreds of people gathered in front of the church.
The celebration at Paysandú was but the first of four major events on his busy program this Saturday.
Back in Montevideo, after lunch at the nunciature (Vatican embassy), he met privately with the Augustinian friars living there before going to the city’s north side for a meeting with the social community of Casavalle at the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On the way he stopped at a home for elderly priests and greeted them.
In recent years, Uruguay has faced a dual drug challenge: its growing role as an international transit and export hub for cocaine heading to Europe and Africa, and a rise in domestic consumption and localized neighborhood violence, as is the case in Casavalle and the surrounding area.
Faced with this reality, the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe provides refuge to young people hit by the drug trafficking and violence and engages in many social projects such as building homes for the needy, job creation and rehabilitation for addicts.
On arrival at the parish, Pope Leo was welcomed by Cardinal Sturla, archbishop of Montevideo, and Father Pablo Coimbra, the parish priest, who accompanied him, and walked some distance to see some of the new homes built by the parish. On the way he greeted children and a woman in a wheelchair and families in front of their new homes.
From there he went by car to the site of the public event, under a canopied platform. A crowd of 12,000 cheered when he arrived and then sang with gusto the popular Spanish hymn, “Iglesia Peregrina de Dios.” A clearly happy Pope Leo joined in the singing.
Welcoming him, Father Coimbra confided, “[we are] at the limit of our strength, in the face of every form of insecurity and helplessness, we cry out and seek refuge in God’s sure protection.” But, he added, “Your presence confirms to us that the Mother Church does not abandon us” and “that God never forgets us” and “reminds us that we are—more than ever—part of the church…. In the church, we do not feel marginalized; we are at the very heart of it.” The crowd applauded with vigor.
Next, three members of the community gave brief personal testimonies.
The first, an elderly woman called Angélica, spoke of the slum priest, Padre Cacho (1929-1992), who lived here in a hut among the people and gave them assistance and hope. He is now beatified. She asked the pope to declare him a saint. Leo blessed her.
The second, a young mother, Katherine Silva, said that at the age of eight she had to care for her blind mother, at 15 ended up on the street, then had a child, suffered violence and wanted to take her own life. She survived thanks to people of faith. She told her story, sometimes in tears, and then embraced Leo.
The third testimony came from a young married man, Alan, who was able to study in a zone where few studied because someone believed in him. Recently his wife became pregnant and the child almost died before birth. He prayed that God’s will be done and the child survived. He now works to help others. Leo blessed him, his wife and the child in her arms.
Having listened to their testimonies, Leo spoke, beginning on a personal note.
“It gives me joy to visit this parish, to walk through the streets of this neighborhood and see the projects that have been carried out with such hard work. 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 revealed that he had contributed to the building of some of these houses thanks to the generous help of benefactors of the Papal Foundation.
He struck another personal note by revealing that “I have a special affection and veneration” for Our Lady of Guadalupe “as I received my episcopal ordination on her feast day.” He recalled that Pope Francis had declared her “Patroness of Latin America” and said, “Mary teaches us to do whatever her Son Jesus tells us (cf. Jn 2:5), and that is also the mission of parishes: to be a lighthouse that points to the presence of Jesus Christ, offering to all the light of God’s Word, the help of the sacraments, the support of prayer and the balm of fraternal charity.”
It is well known that Pope Leo throughout his ministry in Peru gave special attention to the poor. Today he did so again at Casavalle by affirming yet again that the parable of the good Samaritan is a road map for Christians in this city and country. “This story is repeated today in the widespread insecurity and violence that unfortunately threaten the peace of our neighborhoods and even the lives of our loved ones, and all too often society responds with indifference,” he said.
“Yet we can see another side,” he added, “[in] the actions of many institutions and people of goodwill who foster peace and offer practical assistance to those in need.” He cited the “selfless life” of the late Father Cacho, a priest of the slums—mentioned by Angélica—who in this zone “built bridges, tore down walls and fostered encounters.”
Pope Leo told the crowd and the many watching the event on television, “We need to continue to commit ourselves to the charity and closeness of the Good Samaritan who did not remain indifferent upon seeing misfortune, but took responsibility for his brother’s life.”
At this point, Leo spoke strong words for those in positions of authority in this city and country.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there are children in Uruguay who do not go to school for fear of never returning home,” he said, speaking in a zone of the city where, according to official data, in the first nine months of this year, 46 percent of the 98 homicides in Montevideo have taken place.
“We cannot silence our conscience when we see a mother lacking the means to feed her children,” he said alluding to the official data that reveals that in this small country, 14.6 percent of the population are living in poverty. Moreover, he said, “We cannot ignore the many people around us who are suffering, alone and vulnerable.”
Striking this note again, he added, “In a country as rich in resources as this, children should never have to go to bed hungry or be denied the chance of a decent education and a dignified future because of the insecurity that reigns in the streets. Much less should they have to suffer violence to the point of losing their lives.”
He called on the church, civil society and the state “to work together” and said, “We need to shake off our apathy and advocate for the common good.”
He added, “It is up to us to decide to build a new city where no one is excluded, or to remain comfortably immersed in our own affairs. As Pope Francis told us, ‘the decision to include or exclude those lying wounded along the roadside can serve as a criterion for judging every economic, political, social and religious project. Each day we have to decide whether to be Good Samaritans or indifferent bystanders.’”
Pope Leo emphasized that “the church’s mission stems from evangelical charity, which impels her ‘to draw near to the wounds of humanity whenever they surface with greater severity” and said, “When the church intervenes, she does so following the example of the Good Samaritan, with discretion and closeness, aware that what arises from urgent necessity cannot become the norm, nor replace the institutional responsibilities proper to the civil community.”
He concluded by encouraging everyone in the church, state and civil society, “Let us therefore unite our efforts and respond generously to the call to build together a homeland of brothers and sisters.”
They applauded vigorously when he finished speaking, and then chanted, “Leon amigo, el pueblo es contigo” (Leo, friend, the people are with you!). He smiled, waved happily and then drove on to the last two events of his full schedule today: a meeting with professors and students at the Jesuit-run Catholic University of Montevideo and a prayer vigil with some 70,000 young people at the famous Centurion Football Stadium, where Uruguay won the first FIFA World Cup in 1930.
Tomorrow morning, he will travel by plane to the city of Florida to celebrate Mass before the shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three. Then, in the afternoon, Uruguay’s President Orsi will bid Pope Leo farewell before he boards the plane to Argentina, for the second leg of his 12-day marathon journey in Latin America.
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