Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru, Argentina and Uruguay in November
Pope Leo XIV will undertake his first Latin American papal visit from November 6–17, traveling to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The trip holds particular significance as Leo spent decades in Peru as a missionary and bishop before his 2025 election.
Pope Leo XIV will embark on his inaugural Latin American journey as pontiff, visiting three South American nations over a twelve-day period beginning November 6. The Vatican announced the itinerary will include stops across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, marking a symbolic return to the regions that shaped much of his ecclesiastical career.
The Uruguayan leg spans November 6–8 with visits to Montevideo, Paysandu and Florida. The Argentina portion runs November 8–11, encompassing Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Lujan. Peru receives the most extensive attention, with the pope scheduled to visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa from November 11–17. The trip will represent the first papal visit to Argentina and Uruguay in nearly four decades.
Pope Leo's connection to Peru carries deep personal significance. Born in Chicago, he first arrived in Peru in 1985 at age 30 and spent the subsequent three decades alternating between missionary work in the United States and Peru. In 2014, his predecessor appointed him bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo in northern Peru, a position he held until 2023. He became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 and has maintained strong ties to the region. Upon his papal election in 2025, he specifically thanked the Chiclayo diocese in his inaugural address, and the city celebrated him as the first pope from Chiclayo.
The Argentina visit carries additional symbolic weight. Pope Francis, Leo's predecessor, was born in Argentina but never returned to his home country during his twelve-year papacy despite repeated invitations from multiple presidents. Pope Leo will become the first pope to visit Argentina since John Paul II traveled there in 1987. Pope Francis made his final South American trip in 2018, visiting Peru and Chile.
Latin America and the Caribbean represent regions with the world's largest Catholic populations. According to 2013 Pew Research Center data, 39 percent of global Catholics reside in these regions compared to 24 percent in Europe. However, the Catholic Church faces declining influence across Latin America, with the share of Catholics falling from approximately 80 percent in 1995 to 54 percent in 2024, while evangelical Christianity has expanded its regional presence. Pope Leo has prioritized international travel since assuming the papacy, with a France visit scheduled for September 25–28 preceding the South American journey.
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