Pope Leo to return to Peru, where he served as bishop, during November South America trip
The archbishop of Lima, Peru, said the local church is overjoyed ahead of the apostolic visit and that he hopes the Holy Father will bring a message related to his encyclical and truths about humanity. Pope Leo will also visit Argentina and Uruguay during his trip.
In November Pope Leo XIV will undertake an 11-day apostolic journey to Peru — where he ministered for years before becoming pope — as well as to Uruguay and Argentina, the Holy See Press Office announced Aug. 5.
The Holy Father accepted the invitation of the heads of state and ecclesiastical authorities of the countries, confirming the visit, the press office stated. The Pontiff will arrive in South America Nov. 6, and will first visit the cities of Montevideo, Paysandú, and Florida in Uruguay. From Nov. 8 to Nov. 11, he will visit Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Luján in Argentina.
Finally, from Nov. 11-17, the Pontiff will visit Peru, where he had spent years as a missionary and bishop. He will visit Lima, Cusco, Pucallpa, and Chiclayo. He was bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023.
The full itinerary for the journey will be announced at a later date, the press office stated.
Cardinal Carlos Castillo, archbishop of Lima, told Vatican News that the Church in Peru is elated at the news of the Pope’s visit. He said that the Pope is seen as “a true friend of the people, of the entire nation.”
“We have received this news not only with immense joy, but also as a powerful source of encouragement, inspiring us to embrace our faith with renewed generosity as we prepare to welcome him and reinvigorate our Christian and Catholic life,” Cardinal Castillo said.
He said significant preparations are already underway to ensure that the Pope’s visit is safe, well-coordinated, and welcoming. The cardinal also commented on the kind of message he hopes Pope Leo will bring, spotlighting the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and expressing hope that the Pontiff will weigh in on Peru’s current situation in the context of the encyclical.
Vatican News reported that the cardinal had noted that the country is facing social challenges including crime and contract killings. He said that one of the biggest challenges is rediscovering “a shared humanity capable of embracing diversity and building unity,” Vatican News reported.
“Today, we clearly understand that Peru’s deepest problem concerns our humanity,” Cardinal Castillo said.
Observing that Pope Leo knows personally the challenges faced by Peru, Cardinal Castillo also said, “It would be wonderful if he could show us how he sees the Encyclical being put into practice in Peruvian life.”
