Pope Leo XIV wrapped up his visit to Uruguay on Sunday by marking an important Catholic feast day that is tied to the country's independence, capping his effort to draw attention to the role the church played in the founding of Latin America's most secular country.

Leo traveled to the city of Florida, north of Montevideo, before heading to Argentina for the second leg of his three-nation tour of South America.

It's expected to be the most politically delicate, given the Catholic Church's sharp criticisms of the austerity program of libertarian President Javier Milei.