Pope Leo XIV’s Upcoming Visit to Latin America

Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on his longest trip to Latin America, visiting Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina from November 6 to 17. This journey marks the first visit to Latin America as pope for Leo, a U.S.-born pontiff with Peruvian citizenship and a missionary history in Peru.

Leo, age 71, plans to cover over 31,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) in flight during this trip, exceeding the distance traveled during his previous African visit. His visit starts in Uruguay, where he will visit a parish in Casavalle, a neighborhood facing issues related to drug trafficking and gang violence.

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.”

In Uruguay, Leo will also attend a Catholic feast day honoring Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, the patron saint of the country, on November 8.

The pope then progresses to Argentina, where an expected 7 million people will gather to meet him. Leo is set to meet Argentine President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires. Milei, known for his libertarian views and critical stance on Pope Francis, has recently made significant spending cuts, affecting funding for disability programs.

While in Buenos Aires, Leo will visit the Don Orione care home and celebrate Mass at Monumento de los Españoles. Leo’s trip carries political overtones, as his planned activities align with the church’s emphasis on social justice.

Leo’s visit to Peru will reconnect him with his previous diocese of Chiclayo. He will celebrate Mass at Pampas de Pimentel, where nearly 1 million people are likely to gather. Leo plans to pray at a chapel dedicated to St. Oscar Romero, a symbol of solidarity among the working class and the poor.

In Cusco, Leo will honor Peru’s Indigenous peoples, celebrating Mass in the main square, a historically significant site. Additionally, Leo will travel to Pucallpa in the Amazon region for further Mass celebrations.