Pope Leo XIV to Visit Borro, a Montevideo Neighborhood Hit by Drug Violence

Pope Leo XIV will enter the Borro neighborhood of Montevideo on November 6, the opening day of his tour through Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The visit to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish comes days before the start of the 12-day itinerary. The pope confirmed these plans recently despite his own cancer diagnosis. The parish is located in a part of the capital’s north side that has become a focal point for national attention due to rising crime rates.

Residents of Borro describe daily life as punctuated by gunfire and territorial conflicts between drug traffickers. Lucía Pintos, a 21-year-old teacher trainee, noted that children often attend school primarily to receive meals. She stated that families hesitate to send children outside for play or errands because of the risk of stray bullets. The government has responded by deploying armored vehicles, originally donated by the United States for United Nations peacekeeping, to patrol the area.

Official data shows that 98 homicides were recorded in Montevideo through September. This figure represents a 13.5 percent increase over the same period last year. More than 46 percent of those killings occurred in Borro and its surrounding districts. Despite this local surge, Uruguay maintained a homicide rate of approximately 10 per 100,000 people last year, a level considered low for the region. Interior Minister Carlos Negro described the national figures as epidemic rates in October 2025 and pledged to lower them.

Rev. Pablo Coimbra, the head of the parish, explained that families learn to recognize the sound of machine-gun bursts. He said residents often throw themselves to the ground during these exchanges to avoid being hit. The church has become a primary refuge for neighbors. When ambulances arrive, they often stop at the church steps rather than entering the streets. Gangs have previously forced families out of their homes at gunpoint to establish drug dens, pushing displaced residents into the parish grounds.

The parish is currently leading a social housing project that is building more than 100 units with sanitation systems. This construction effort creates local jobs for residents. A concrete road was paved to allow papal access, cutting through the area’s dirt roads that often flood with mud. A restored soccer field on the grounds serves as a community hub, though training for local players has been paused as a precaution following recent shootings.

Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo told the Associated Press that Borro has the strongest Catholic presence in the country. He toured the neighborhood with reporters after receiving a Vatican delegation. The church also hosts a weekly Mass for homeless individuals, drawing dozens from across the city. Coimbra noted that many attendees seek food, restrooms, and a place to be heard. When Holy Communion is distributed, most people remain with their arms crossed, indicating they have not been baptized. Church data shows only 2,200 of 30,000 newborns in Uruguay received baptism in 2025.

Pablo Acosta, 28, was born in Borro and struggled with crime and addiction before finding stability at the parish. He works informally in local markets and supports his 10-year-old son, whom he rarely sees. Acosta carries a gunshot wound in his stomach and multiple stab wounds from past conflicts. Coimbra stated that the church aims to provide opportunities such as study groups and sports to prevent youth from entering the drug trade. He emphasized that the community needs intervention in areas where idleness is high.