El Papa en Casavalle: una tierra de dolor pero viva en la fe

After Mass, the Pope addressed the encounter with the social reality of Casavalle in the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A community «where poverty, lack of opportunities and violence manifest the fragmentation of our Uruguayan society,» as Cardinal Sturla explained to the Pope, noting, however, how at the same time it is a «land of love, of Christian dedication.".

Not surprisingly, Casavalle, located in the northern peripheral area of Montevideo (Municipality D), represents one of the areas with the highest levels of social vulnerability, urban fragmentation and economic backwardness in Uruguay.

The Cardinal highlighted how «within just a few blocks, the Catholic Church clearly reflects God’s love. The housing developments you recently visited, the soup kitchen at the Rosario sports field, the SOPHIA Foundation school, the Salesians with their Don Bosco vocational school and the Tacurú project, the Focolare Movement and their New Life project, the Missionaries of Charity and their care for the elderly, the Opus Dei projects in Los Pinos, CADI, and Los Rosales, the Daughters of Charity, the Daughters of the Nativity and their Banneux school, Father Cacho’s work, the Dehonians at the Grotto of Lourdes in their parish, the Houses of the Word, the Jubilar High School…».

The parish priest, Pablo Coimbra, welcomed the Pontiff, expressing his joy at the Holy Father's visit to a vulnerable community in which «the open wounds of our people reveal the beauty of the cross.».

A beauty manifested in harsh realities where faith has been an essential support: «parents who, choosing life, dedicate years to caring for a quadriplegic child; the beauty of a family that remains united even when they have nothing to put on the table; the beauty of young people who, in a rain-soaked ranch, strive to study; the beauty of those who maintain their faith despite the greatest human pain, the death of a child by violence; the beauty of those who, even while experiencing the most difficult hardships, continue to love one another. It is not the ephemeral beauty of the world. It is a profound beauty, capable of giving meaning to the most terrible suffering.».

The living presence of the Church was evident in the testimonies of Angélica, Katerhine, and Alan. The figure of Father Cacho was central to Angélica's words, as she told the Pope how this priest «taught us to work together, to recognize and defend our dignity, to trust in God and in ourselves, to build community… We transformed a neighborhood, but above all, we transformed our hearts. He taught us that Christ sits at our table, speaks our language, and rides in the recycling cart. With his dedication, love, and commitment, he restored dignity to those whom society had rendered invisible.».

A life marked by violence and abuse. This has been Katherine's testimony, who came to the Church «through the Tacurú Movement,» where she approached looking for work. «I came looking for work and found a family that brought me closer to God.« An encounter she arrived at »broken, and with patience and love they helped me put myself back together piece by piece.«.

Alan, 32, was able to study for a technical degree thanks to the Juan Pablo II High School, where he found confidence and the strength to «defy fate“ and believe in a different future. This young father wanted to introduce his son Bruno, born very prematurely and given little hope of survival, to the Pope.

«The decision to build a new city, in which no one is excluded, rests with us.»

Before thanking those who shared their testimonies, the Pope spoke impromptu to the hundreds of people gathered in Casavalle. Leo XIV remarked that «a great blessing comes when we are gathered in community, when we learn to work together, to collaborate on a common project, and to say that life is important, that our faith sustains us, and that we want to be faithful to Jesus, our best friend.».

The Pope expressed his gratitude for the testimonies and, in his address, recalled the parable of the Good Samaritan. He described it as a story that «we can see replicated many times even today in the numerous cases of insecurity and violence that sadly threaten the peace of our neighborhoods, and even the lives of our loved ones, and which society so often ignores.».

Leo XIV emphasized that «we need to continue to embrace the charitable closeness of the Good Samaritan: (...) We cannot turn a blind eye when we know that there are children in Uruguay who do not go to school for fear of not returning. We cannot silence our conscience when we see that a mother does not have the means to feed her children. We cannot ignore that in our surroundings there are many people who are suffering, who are alone and vulnerable.».

The Pope referred to Uruguay's development and stability, noting that «a child of this country, so rich in resources, should not go to bed hungry, nor should they have to give up receiving a decent education and future because of the insecurity that reigns in the streets. Much less should they suffer violence to the point of losing their life.».

For all these reasons, he has once again called for unity: «the Church, the civil community, and the State. We need to awaken from our inertia and advocate for the common good. The decision to build a new city, in which no one is excluded, or to remain comfortably immersed in our own affairs, rests with us.».

Encounter with the world of education and Vigil

Following this meeting, the Pope's agenda includes two particularly anticipated events in Uruguay: the meeting with the world of education at the Catholic University of Uruguay and the prayer vigil at the Centenario Stadium, which is expected to be attended by hundreds of thousands of people.