Montevideo's Borro: Pope Leo XIV visits parish amid gunfire and housing projects
The pontiff's Nov. 6 stop in the violence-plagued neighborhood highlights a community using faith and construction to counter drug trafficking.
By Amit Ricci ·
Pope Leo XIV will arrive in Montevideo on Nov. 6 to begin a 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The first stop is the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in the Borro neighborhood, a location chosen to showcase the church's role in a community facing high rates of violence.
The visit follows the pope's recent cancer diagnosis, which he confirmed he would proceed with despite the medical news. Borro sits on the north side of Uruguay's capital and has become a focal point for the country's rising homicide numbers.
The neighborhood struggles with territorial disputes between drug dealers and the spread of trafficking networks. Local residents report living with the sound of machine-gun fire. The Uruguayan government began patrols with armored vehicles in the area. These vehicles were originally donated by the United States for U.N. peacekeeping missions.
Data from Montevideo indicates that 98 homicides were registered in the city through September. This figure represents a 13.5% increase over the same period last year. More than 46% of those deaths occurred in Borro and surrounding districts. Uruguay's national homicide rate stands at approximately 10 per 100,000 people, a low figure for the region.
Interior Minister Carlos Negro described the situation as having epidemic homicide rates in October 2025. He vowed to reduce the numbers. The parish serves as a refuge for residents, including families displaced by gangs who used gunpoint to expel them from their homes to set up drug dens.
Rev. Pablo Coimbra, head of the parish, stated that families often hide indoors when shootings begin. He noted that stray bullets land randomly during bursts of fire. The church also functions as a medical triage point, as ambulances typically only approach as far as the church grounds.
To combat crime and poverty, the parish is leading social housing projects. Residents are building more than 100 units with sanitation systems, an effort that generates local employment. The community recently restored a soccer field where young players practice, though training was suspended temporarily following recent shootings.
Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo said Borro has the strongest Catholic presence in the country. He toured the neighborhood with The Associated Press after receiving a Vatican delegation in preparation for the visit. Sturla emphasized the church's role in providing structure for youth who lack other recreational options.
Many young people find solace in faith to escape crime. The parish holds a Mass for homeless people on Mondays, drawing dozens from across the city. Participants often remain with arms crossed over their chests during Holy Communion, indicating they have not been baptized. Church data shows only 2,200 of the 30,000 newborns in Uruguay were baptized in 2025.
Pablo Acosta, 28, is one of the residents supported by the parish. He works informally in local markets and sends money to his 10-year-old son, whom he does not see due to his addictions. Acosta, who has a gunshot wound in his stomach and stab wounds, said he has been trying to quit using drugs for the past month. Coimbra said the church intervenes in the idleness that plagues the area, offering opportunities where clubs and classes are scarce.
