Excerpt below, for the full transcript click on the picture link above

Dear brothers and sisters of this land of Uruguay,

With great enthusiasm, I am here with you today next to Our Lady of the Thirty-Three. I come as a pilgrim to share in the faith and the tenderness with which the Uruguayan people have looked at the Mother of God for generations. I say to those who have come from different places, to those who have been making the pilgrimage here for years, and to those who are visiting for the first time today: I embrace all of you with affection and entrust you to Mary’s protection.

Today, the word of God presents us with two women who lived in very different times and upon whom almost the same blessing is bestowed.  To Judith, after the liberation of her people, it was said: “O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all other women on earth” (Jud 13:18).  Many centuries later, Elizabeth welcomes Mary into her home and exclaims: “Blessed are you among women” (Lk 1:42).

This connection was recognized very early on by Christian tradition. In Judith, it saw a woman who did not allow herself to be overcome by fear at a difficult time for her people. Through prayer and fasting, she made a decision that led her to risk her own life (cf. Jud 8-10). When victory came, Judith did not take credit for it, for she knew full well who had saved Israel, and said: “Begin a song to my God with tambourines, sing to my Lord with cymbals” (Jud 16:1). That is why the words with which her people welcomed her are so majestic: “You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the great boast of Israel, you are the great pride of our nation!” (Jud 15:9). The people celebrated what God had done for them through Judith.

08.11.26

Dear brothers and sisters,

The readings we have just heard describe the figure of a righteous man whom the Lord helps and strengthens so that he may carry out the mission entrusted to him. In his Letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul expresses gratitude for the community’s support of his missionary work, conscious that, in his poverty, God is his only wealth and that divine providence is made manifest through the brothers and sisters to whom he has been sent.

The Psalm, for its part, calls blessed those who love the law of the Lord and whose deeds are consistent with their faith. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the honest man who serves God and who places the Lord at the center of his life, remaining faithful in everything entrusted to him, whether it be great or small.

Today, as we gather here in Paysandú to celebrate the Eucharist — rejoicing to see so many members of the Church in Uruguay assembled around the same table, together with pilgrims from neighbouring countries — the Liturgy of the Word invites us to recall the presence of so many people of faith who came to the Río de la Plata region. From the earliest days of evangelization on this continent, they arrived in the name of the Lord to proclaim the great joy they themselves had experienced in encountering Christ. Like the angels who appeared to the shepherds (cf. Lk 2:10), they joyfully shared the Good News of the Gospel, expressing their faith through works of charity and mercy.

In this celebration, we also wish to remember and give thanks to God for the life and ministry of a son of this land: Blessed Jacinto Vera, Bishop of Montevideo, who bore faithful witness to the faith he proclaimed through generous charity and total dedication to the apostolic mission. He widely exercised his pastoral zeal, sparing no sacrifice. For instance, he often travelled on horseback to care for the sick, despite the great distances, the dangers of the journey, and the harsh weather. The “gaucho bishop” travelled the length and breadth of Uruguay three times, bringing faith and hope to its people. During the historic Siege of Paysandú in 1864, Bishop Vera took up residence on the Isla de la Caridad, across from the besieged city, to care for refugees and the wounded on both sides. He remained there until the siege ended, accompanying his people and pleading in the name of God for the armies of brothers to embrace one another in fraternal love.

Dear brothers and sisters, today it is our turn to continue the legacy left to us by these sowers of the Gospel. We must do so bearing in mind the word of God: with justice, honesty and faithfulness, recognizing that the message we proclaim does not belong to us. It is a treasure we have received from the Lord, and we carry it in earthen vessels (cf. 2 Cor 4:7).

Three symbols that characterize this region can help us reflect on the treasure of faith we have received and the mission now entrusted to us. The first is the bridge; the second the palm groves; and the third is the mate drink.

In this city of Paysandú stands the General Artigas International Bridge, which spans the Uruguay River, uniting two neighbouring countries. It is not difficult to imagine the benefits a bridge brings: openness, communication and exchange.  That is why it is so important to be builders of bridges! This is the vocation to which we are all called: to build bridges, strengthen bonds, unite, communicate and share the joy of faith, as Blessed Jacinto Vera did, “whether the time is favourable or unfavourable” (2 Tim 4:2).

Moreover, a bridge needs solid foundations if it is to withstand even the strongest currents. Indeed, just as a house built on rock stands firm in the midst of a storm, while one built on sand is in danger of collapsing (cf. Mt 7:24-27), so too a bridge needs proper foundations to withstand the force of wind and water. Whenever you go down to the riverbank and see the bridge, remember that this symbol represents us and reminds us of the importance of a solid Christian formation. We need to be well prepared to give an account of our faith to anyone who asks (cf. 1 Pet 3:15) and not allow ourselves to be carried away “by all kinds of strange teachings” (Heb 13:9). Only in this way can we become instruments of unity and bonds of charity.

The second symbol that characterizes and embellishes this land is the palm groves. The Book of Psalms tells us that “the righteous flourish like the palm tree” (Ps 92:12). This tree can withstand strong winds, has deep roots, rises straight toward the sky in search of light, and produces the sweet yatay fruit. This is a beautiful image of our origin and the destiny to which we are called: to take root in Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End of our lives, so that, by remaining united to him, we may bear good fruit (cf. Jn 15:5).

At the same time, we observe that palm trees in this region do not stand alone, but form groves; there are many of them, yet they are neither alone nor far apart. Likewise, the Church is a community of brothers and sisters that sinks its roots and draws from a common spring: the word of God, the sacraments, prayer and charitable works. Together, her faithful lift their eyes to praise Christ — the dawn from on high, whose light guides humanity’s steps along the path of peace (cf. Lk 1:78-79).

Finally, let us consider a symbol found in every home in this country, in every place of study and work, and at every gathering of friends. I am referring to mate, that drink so characteristic of South America, whose profound meaning you can explain better than I can. Surely, many of you enjoyed mate on your way to this celebration today and will have some again on your journey home. Mate has even made its way to Rome!

Mate is a sign of familiarity, friendship and encounter. It teaches us to share and to be together, strengthening the bonds that unite us as brothers and sisters. It is a sign of welcome, integration and shared values. “Drinking mate” is a ritual rich in symbolism, in which dialogue takes place without words and every detail holds its own meaning. I also think of those moments when one drinks mate alone, silently and prayerfully. In those moments of solitude, how often have so many of you entrusted to God your concerns and needs, your deepest desires and longings!

Dear brothers and sisters, we must reflect on these symbols that we share, which give us identity and a sense of belonging, which speak to us of our origins and point us toward the future. Faith, too, has been part of the life of the Uruguayan people since their earliest days, and it must be passed on to future generations with creative courage.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the importance of being faithful to the gifts we have received: “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much” (Lk 16:10). Many men and women, like Bishop Jacinto Vera, lived out these words. Faithful to the vocation they had received, they sowed the seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of the Uruguayan people. Those seeds remain alive in the community, but it is essential to continue providing the necessary conditions for them to grow and reach their full potential. This involves continuing to educate children and young people in the faith, accompanying families, supporting the elderly and carrying out works of charity.

Dear brothers and sisters, I encourage you to carry forward the mission of evangelization with enthusiasm. Be bridges, so that many may encounter Jesus.  Be a fraternal community that comes together and shares life, projects, dreams and hopes, especially with those most in need. Be a community of prayer that maintains an ongoing dialogue with the Lord as a friend speaks to a friend (cf. Jn 15:15). Christ is counting on all of you! Christ is counting on you!

May our heavenly Mother, Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, protect you on your journey through life and always guide you to an encounter with her Son, Jesus.

07.11.26 m