World News

Estimated 40,000 attend Pope Leo XIV's first South American Mass in Uruguay

The Vatican and local authorities estimate about 40,000 people attended Paysandú's Mass, which opens a 12-day tour.

Published Nov 10, 2026 · 19:50 UTC2 reports

The short version

Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first Mass of his 12-day South American tour in Paysandú, Uruguay.[Deutsche Welle]
The Vatican said about 30,000 people registered and another 10,000 attended despite rain.[Deutsche Welle]
The tour had been in doubt after the pope's lung cancer surgery on October 13.[ABC News]
A Montevideo prayer vigil is expected to draw about 60,000 young people, a projection rather than a reported count.[Deutsche Welle]

The Vatican and local authorities estimated about 40,000 people attended the Saturday morning Mass in Paysandú.[Deutsche Welle]
The Vatican said 30,000 people from Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil had registered, with about 10,000 more attending despite rain.[Deutsche Welle]
Pope Leo XIV underwent lung cancer surgery on October 13, before the tour began.[ABC News]
A prayer vigil in Montevideo is expected to draw more than 60,000 young people.[Deutsche Welle]

Attendance figures are estimates from the Vatican and local authorities, and independent counts were not reported.[Deutsche Welle · ABC News]
The 60,000 vigil figure is a projection, not a reported outcome.[Deutsche Welle]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.