Pope Leo XIV will embark on his inaugural Latin American tour as pontiff in November, visiting Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay from November 6 to 17. The Vatican announced the itinerary on Wednesday, which includes multiple cities across all three nations during the twelve-day journey.
The Peruvian leg of the trip holds particular significance for the pope, who spent much of his ministerial career in the country before his election in 2025. Leo first arrived in Peru in 1985 as a missionary and later served as bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo from 2014 until 2023. His return to Chiclayo is expected to be an emotionally resonant moment, as the city has embraced him as the first papal leader with roots in their region.
The Argentina portion of the visit carries symbolic weight as well. Pope Leo will become the first pontiff to visit Argentina since John Paul II in 1987, breaking a significant absence during his predecessor’s papacy. The tour reflects Leo’s intensified international travel schedule, following recent visits to France and several African nations earlier in 2026.
The trip underscores the Catholic Church’s engagement with Latin America, home to approximately 39 percent of the world’s Catholic population. However, the region has experienced declining Catholic identification, dropping from roughly 80 percent in 1995 to 54 percent in 2024, as evangelical Christianity gains adherents.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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