Pope Leo XIV to visit violence‑racked Borro parish in Montevideo
The pontiff’s visit comes amid armed drug‑dealer clashes and new government patrols with armored vehicles.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit the Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in the Borro neighbourhood of Montevideo, Uruguay, at the start of his Nov. 6‑17 tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, according to both the Winnipeg Free Press and The Independent.
What happened
Borro, a north‑side Montevideo district, has been plagued by drug‑trafficking‑related gunfire and territorial disputes. The government has begun patrols with armored vehicles – originally donated by the United States for U.N. peacekeeping missions – to curb the violence. The parish, which builds homes, promotes job creation and supports addicts in recovery, will host the Pope’s visit.
What the reports add
- The neighbourhood accounts for more than 46% of Montevideo’s 98 homicides recorded up to September, a 13.5% rise over the same period last year, though Uruguay’s overall homicide rate remains about 10 per 100,000.
- Interior Minister Carlos Negro, speaking in October 2025, warned of “epidemic homicide rates” and pledged stronger action.
- Archbishop Daniel Sturla noted that Borro has the strongest Catholic presence in the country.
- The parish is overseeing a social‑housing project in which residents are constructing over 100 new units with sanitation, creating local jobs.
- A concrete road has been laid to improve access for the papal visit, replacing the previously muddy dirt paths that ran toward a nearby stream.
- The restored soccer field, where young talent Lautaro Martínez trains, has been temporarily closed as a safety precaution.
What was said
“It’s a painful reality, because the children have to go to school to have lunch or an afternoon snack,” said 21‑year‑old Lucía Pintos, a teacher‑in‑training, to the Winnipeg Free Press.
“Families know that at a certain time they have to go inside,” Rev. Pablo Coimbra told The Independent. “When the shootings start, they throw themselves to the ground, because a stray bullet can hit anyone. It’s bursts of machine‑gun fire, and the bullets land wherever they land.”
Archbishop Daniel Sturla remarked that no other place in Uruguay has such a strong Catholic presence as Borro.
Interior Minister Carlos Negro described the homicide surge as an “epidemic” and said the government is committed to reducing it.
How it came about
The visit follows Pope Leo XIV’s recent European engagements, including a hospital Mass on Oct. 16, an Angelus prayer on Oct. 18 and a record‑setting outdoor Mass in Paris on Sep. 26, as covered by Felo News in earlier articles (Pope Leo XIV’s Mass in Paris Draws Half a Million, Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in hospital after lung cancer surgery). The South American leg of the tour aims to address social issues and reinforce the Church’s presence in regions facing insecurity.
Key facts
- Pope Leo XIV will visit the Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Borro, Montevideo, at the start of his Nov. 6‑17 South American tour. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Borro is a drug‑trafficking‑plagued neighbourhood where the government has deployed armored‑vehicle patrols. (independent.co.uk)
- Lucía Pintos, a 21‑year‑old teacher‑trainee, said children must stay at school for meals because of gunfire. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Rev. Pablo Coimbra, head of the parish, said families hide indoors when shootings begin. (independent.co.uk)
Timeline
- 2026-09-24 — Pope Leo XIV leads a Mass in Paris that draws over 600,000 attendees.
- 2026-10-16 — Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in a Rome hospital after lung cancer surgery.
- 2026-10-18 — Pope Leo XIV delivers the Angelus prayer and announces a phased return to duties.
