Meeting with the social community of Casavalle at the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe

This afternoon, after meeting the members of the Augustinian Order, the Holy Father left the Apostolic Nunciature and transferred by car to the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

During the journey, the Pope stopped briefly at the Hogar Sacerdotal Mons. Jacinto Vera rest home along the way to greet some twenty priests residing there. The Pope greeted each one of them individually and emphasized the absolute value of life, even when it is made fragile by old age or sickness, and the long years of ministry of those present: “I wonder if anyone has counted how many of you there are!”. Before imparting his blessing upon them, the Pope and the priests recited the Lord’s Prayer together.

Upon arrival at the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the meeting with the social community of Casavalle, the Holy Father, accompanied by the Cardinal Archbishop of Montevideo, proceeded on foot to some recently-constructed houses built with the support of the Parish and intended for families most in need. The Pope greeted some families in the courtyard of the homes. He then proceeded by car to the meeting area and took to the stage.

After the introduction from the moderator of the meeting, the greeting from the Cardinal Archbishop of Montevideo and some words of welcome from the parish priest of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Father Pablo Coímbra, a video was screened on life in Casavalle. Then, a representative of the community of the barrio Plácido Ellauri, a young monther from the barrio Marconi and a former student of the Liceo Jubilar San Juan Pablo II offered their testimonies.

At the end, Pope Leo XIV delivered his greeting.

Then, after the presentation of the gift, the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, the blessing, the conclusion from the moderator of the meeting and a final hymn, the Pontiff visited the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe to greet some religious sisters and the elderly people present, before leaving the premises.

At the end of the meeting, the Holy Father travelled by car to the Catholic University of Uruguay.