The Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV will undertake a tour of three South American nations from November 6 to 17. The itinerary includes stops in Uruguay from November 6 to 8, Argentina from November 8 to 11, and Peru from November 11 to 17. Specific cities on the schedule include Montevideo, Paysandu, and Florida in Uruguay; Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and Lujan in Argentina; and Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco, and Pucallpa in Peru.
The visit carries significant personal meaning for the pontiff, as he spent much of his ecclesiastical career in the region. Born in Chicago, he first arrived in Peru in 1985 and subsequently moved between the United States and Peru in missionary work. In 2014, his predecessor appointed him to lead the Diocese of Chiclayo, where he became a naturalized Peruvian citizen and served until 2023. Upon his election as pope in 2025, he referenced the diocese in his inaugural address, and local residents celebrated by gathering in the city’s main square. His return to Chiclayo is expected to be an emotionally significant moment during the tour.
The Argentina portion of the journey also carries symbolic weight. Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, was born in Argentina but never returned during his papacy despite invitations from multiple presidents. Pope Leo will become the first pope to visit the country since 1987, when Pope John Paul II traveled there.
The trip occurs as the Catholic Church navigates shifting religious demographics in Latin America. The region hosts approximately 39 percent of the world’s Catholic population, yet Catholic identification has declined from roughly 80 percent in 1995 to 54 percent in 2024, according to polling data. Evangelical Christianity has expanded its presence during this period. Before traveling to South America, Pope Leo is scheduled to visit France from September 25 to 28.
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