Falling birth rates, fading faith? Pope Leo's message to Uruguay's youth

Pope Leo XIV has urged young people to marry and start families, telling them not to fear lifelong commitment, as he continued his South American tour in Uruguay, a country that has experienced a sharp decline in birth rates."Young people, dare to take the step of marrying and starting a family yourselves.

Don't be afraid of 'forever'!" Leo said during a youth prayer service at a packed stadium in the capital, Montevideo, according to news agency AFP.The appeal came on the second day of his visit to Uruguay, the first stop of his three-nation South American tour.Pope calls on Uruguayans to strengthen faith and fraternityDuring his visit, Leo also urged Uruguayans to build bridges of fraternity and faith, highlighting the Catholic Church's role in a country regarded as Latin America's most secular.On Saturday, he travelled to Paysandú, in western Uruguay near the border with Argentina, to celebrate his first Mass in South America.