Pope Leo XIV defended the dignity of the unborn during his first speech in Uruguay on Friday, telling a crowd in Montevideo's Plaza Independencia that those who have not yet been born already belong to the human family and the future of their people.

Speaking before an estimated 30,000 people and in the presence of progressive President Yamandú Orsi, the pope highlighted the absolute dependence of the unborn on the mother, stating that it does not diminish their dignity or the protection they deserve. He emphasized that welcoming new life requires fathers to commit alongside mothers, family support, and social conditions that allow both parents to raise their children.

Uruguay decriminalized abortion in 2012 within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and became the first country in South America to legalize euthanasia in 2025. The nation also holds the highest suicide rate in Latin America, with 19.16 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants reported in 2025.

Leo XIV extended his remarks on the protection of life to call for universal access to healthcare and accompaniment until the natural end of life. He noted the painful reality of suicide and urged adequate medical care, family ties, and community closeness so that no one feels like a stranger among their own.

The pope, who recently underwent surgery for a lung tumor and described himself as pretty fit, used the visit to praise Uruguay's renewable energy mix and its democratic traditions while stressing that the country's secular character should not confine religious expression to the private sphere.

The address marked the start of Leo XIV's 12-day tour of South America, which will take him to 11 cities across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The pontiff arrived in Montevideo on Friday afternoon and was greeted by Orsi at the airport before traveling through the city.