Pope Leo XIV plays with a child as he arrived at the square outside the Cathedral Basilica of Florida, Uruguay, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, to preside over Mass on the third day of his twelve-day apostolic journey to South America, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Andrew Medichini/AP hide caption

Andrew Medichini/AP

FLORIDA, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV wrapped up his visit to Uruguay on Sunday by praising the women who have passed the Catholic faith onto younger generations, as he highlighted the role the church has played since the founding of Latin America's most secular country.

Leo traveled to the city of Florida, north of Montevideo, to mark an important Catholic feast day before heading to Argentina for the second leg of his South American tour.…