Pope Leo XIV will embark on his most extensive trip to date in November, visiting Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The Vatican announced the itinerary for the Nov. 6-17 journey, which marks Leo XIV's first papal visit to Latin America. The trip is particularly significant as it will include a return to Peru, where he served as a missionary priest and bishop for two decades.
The pontiff, who holds both U.S. and Peruvian citizenship, plans to retrace his missionary footsteps during his time in Peru. This visit will cover over 31,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) of flight time, nearly double that of his April trip to Africa.
The journey begins in Uruguay, where Leo XIV will celebrate Mass on Nov. 8 at the National Shrine in Florida, honoring Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, the country's patron saint. This date is associated with an important Catholic feast day.
In Argentina, the Pope will pay homage to Our Lady of Lujan, the patron saint of the country, whose statue is housed in the city of Lujan. This visit is notable because Pope Francis, Leo XIV's Argentine predecessor, never returned to his native country after his election in 2013. Francis' decision to forgo visits to Argentina was reportedly to avoid fueling political divisions, as he had been a divisive figure in the country prior to his papacy. Leo XIV's visit to Argentina marks the first papal trip to the nation since St. John Paul II visited in 1982 and 1987.
During his time in Buenos Aires, Leo XIV is scheduled to visit the capital's federal prison, a potential nod to Francis' legacy of prison ministry.
The longest portion of the trip will be spent in Peru. Arriving in Lima on Nov. 11, Leo XIV will travel to Chiclayo, the diocese where he served as bishop from 2014 to 2023 before being called to the Vatican by Francis. On the night of his election, Leo XIV had acknowledged his "beloved diocese of Chiclayo." He will depart Peru on the afternoon of Nov. 16 after a final Mass in Callao.
In Cusco, an important historical and cultural center in the Peruvian Andes, the Pope will meet with popular groups. He will also travel to Pucallpa, located in Peru's Amazonian forest, to honor the Indigenous peoples of Peru with a Mass on Nov. 15.