Cardinal Sturla: In secularized Uruguay, 5 million Hail Marys offered for the Pope
November 06, 2026
» Continue to this story on L'Osservatore Romano (Italian)
CWN Editor's Note: Cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, S.D.B., of Montevideo, Uruguay, wrote that the nation’s Catholics have prayed five million Hail Marys for Pope Leo in the weeks before his apostolic journey there.
When Pope Leo was hospitalized last month, “we launched a campaign titled ‘Uruguay Prays for Leo XIV,’ inviting every member of the faithful to recite a Hail Mary and log each prayer on a counter available on the apostolic journey’s official website,” Cardinal Sturla said on the eve of the papal visit. “We surpassed the five-million mark!”
Cardinal Sturla added:
Today, Uruguay is a country with its own distinct characteristics, strongly marked by secularism, yet one where we are also witnessing an awakening of faith among many people. Catholic identity here is not a matter of mere habit, but rather the result of a conscious choice and personal conviction.The above note supplements, highlights, or corrects details in the original source (link above). About CWN news coverage.
For this reason, I believe it is important to listen to what the Pope has to share with us, both in his proclamation of the Gospel and in his message of hope and love for life, something that Uruguay truly needs.
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