Pope Leo XIV urged young people to face modern uncertainties with courage and prioritize real human connections over digital interactions during the second day of his visit to Uruguay on Saturday. Speaking at a prayer vigil before 70,000 people at Montevideo's Estadio Centenario, the pontiff warned that virtual interactions cannot replace genuine human relationships. He stated, "Nothing can replace real human contact," and told the youth not to isolate themselves in the superficial world offered by screens and algorithms. Instead, he encouraged them to look into one another's eyes, hold hands, and share joys and struggles face-to-face.
The Pope expressed concern regarding declining interest in religion and growing secularization. He specifically encouraged young Uruguayans to have the courage to marry and start families, rather than viewing children as a burden.
During a meeting with academics, students, and education sector representatives at the Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU) in Montevideo, Leo addressed the transformation brought by artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasized that schools and universities must promote the wise use of technology while keeping humans at the center of progress. He stated, "It is an urgent necessity for our education system, in schools and universities, to contribute to the wise use of technologies and artificial intelligence, putting the human person before algorithms and harmonising technical, emotional, spiritual and ecological intelligence."
The pontiff also visited the Casavalle neighborhood, one of Montevideo's poorest areas and a district marked by high crime. At the Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Church, he noted Uruguay's rich natural resources and called for better protection of vulnerable children. He said, "In a country as rich in resources as Uruguay, no child should go to bed hungry or be deprived of the right to a decent education and a dignified future because of insecurity in the streets." He further underscored that no child should be exposed to violence that could cost them their lives.
Later, Leo made a surprise visit to the Monsignor Jacinto Vera Residence for Elderly Priests in Montevideo.
