Pope Leo sets off on 12-day South America tour

The pontiff will hold meetings and celebrate Mass in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, with the latter attracting particular interest. The trip will be the longest and farthest of his papacy so far. The plane carrying Pope Leo XIV to South America for the beginning of his almost two-week tour set off from Rome on Friday.

Following a 13-and-a-half-hour flight, the pontiff is set to land in Uruguay , where he will spend three days before heading on to Argentina , and finally Peru . Latin America is home to around 40% of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics , for whom the pope is their spiritual leader. However, fewer and fewer people on the continent identify as Catholic.

It was the first country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana use and has since legalized abortion, same-sex marriage and assisted dying, all against opposition from the Catholic Church. However, the enthusiasm around Leo's visit has come as a bit of a surprise, with tickets for his prayer vigil at Montevideo's Centenario Stadium selling out in just two days.