Pope Leo XIV will return to Peru and his beloved Chiclayo, where he served for eight years as bishop, in November, as he completes a grueling 11-day trip.
During the trip, he will also visit Uruguay and Argentina, marking the first visit to these countries by the Roman Pontiff in almost four decades.
The Holy See released the schedule on Monday, along with the motto and logos for the visit of each of the three countries.
Pope Leo XIV served in Peru for decades, first as a missionary priest and then later as Bishop of Chiclayo. In between, he served as Prior Provincial in Chicago, and then Prior General of the Augustinian Order.
Pope Francis visited Peru in 2018 and had been expected to visit Argentina in 2016 however these plans were never formalised.
Pope John Paul II visited Uruguay in 1987 and 1988, and visited Argentina in 1982 and 1987.
South America has played an important role in the life of the Church, particularly in the past few decades. Pope Francis spent almost his entire presbyteral and episcopal ministry serving in Argentina, while Pope Leo XIV spent a large portion of his life serving in Peru.
Pope Leo XIV will begin his journey on Friday, 8 November, in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he will meet with the President and civil authorities, before celebrating vespers at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Philip and James.
He will then travel to Paysandu, where he will celebrate Mass, before returning to Montevideo, where he will conduct a prayer vigil at the Centenary Stadium.
On Sunday, 8 November, he will celebrate Mass in the morning in front of the Cathedral Basilica of Florida, before traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The next day, he will celebrate Mass and meet with various Christian and religious leaders, before celebrating vespers at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity.
On Tuesday, 10 November, he will fly to Córdoba, where he will celebrate Mass, before arriving back to Buenos Aires in the afternoon to celebrate a Youth Vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles”.
The next day, he will fly to Lima, Peru and will meet with the President. On Thursday, 12 November, he will celebrate mid-morning prayers in the Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, before meeting with young people and local bishops.
On Friday, 13 November, he will return to Chiclayo and celebrate Mass with the people of his old Diocese, before having supper with the priests of the Diocese in the evening.
The next morning, eh will celebrate the Rite of the Coronation of the Immaculate Virgin in the Cathedral of Saint Mary, before flying to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, where he will celebrate Mass.
He will travel to Cusco on Sunday, 15 November, where he will lead the Angelus Prayer in the the square in front of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, before traveling to Pucallpa, where he will celebrate Holy Mass in the afternoon.
On Monday, 16 November, he will celebrate Holy Mass at the Las Palmas Air Base, before traveling back to Rome.
A full itinerary of Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru can be found here.
