On the occasion of Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Uruguay, November 6–8, 2026, Fr. Luc Lalire shares his experience as a missionary Fidei Donum in this Latin American country, where the Church continues its commitment to serving the most vulnerable.
Nearly forty years after John Paul II’s visit, Pope Leo XIV is traveling to Uruguay, where only 9% of Uruguayans identify as practicing Catholics. For more than a century, in this country considered the most secular in Latin America, Christmas has been officially designated as the « Family Day » and Holy Week as the « Tourism Week ».
Uruguay: A «Free, Small, and Beautiful» Church Awaits the Pope
In this particular context, what role does the Church play in Uruguayan society? How does it bear witness to the Gospel and to Christ’s closeness to the most vulnerable people?
To discuss this, Fr. Luc Lalire, who was a priest Fidei Donum who served in the Diocese of Melo from 2005 to 2011, offers his insights and shares his missionary experience. In particular, he speaks of the Church’s commitment through its social works in the Casavalle neighborhood, on the outskirts of Montevideo, where Pope Leo XIV is expected to visit.
An invitation to discover a Church that, in the heart of a largely secularized society, continues to carry out its mission among the poorest.
Watch the episode of KTO TV – «Churches of the World,» November 5, 2026, on Uruguay
A show hosted by Marion Fontenille.