Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on an extensive 11-day visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, a journey that marks the longest and farthest papal trip of his pontificate. The trip, scheduled from Nov. 6 to Nov. 17, follows closely on the heels of a successful surgery on Oct. 13 to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung, with doctors having cleared him for travel.
This tour holds particular significance as Pope Leo XIV returns to the continent where he spent two decades serving as a missionary priest and honing his pastoral skills. Latin America remains a vital region for the Catholic Church, home to approximately 40% of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. However, the proportion of Catholics in the region has been declining, with notable decreases in the very countries Leo XIV will visit.
Uruguay: Navigating Secularism and Faith
The journey begins in Uruguay, a nation characterized by its deeply entrenched secular identity and separation of church and state. Official designations like “Family Day” for Christmas and “Tourism Week” for Holy Week underscore this secular bent. While Vatican statistics indicate that nearly 77% of Uruguay's 3.5 million inhabitants are baptized Catholics, more than half identify as religiously unaffiliated, the highest rate in Latin America. Consequently, only a fraction of self-identified Catholics regularly attend Mass.
Pope Leo XIV's itinerary includes a visit to a parish in Casavalle, a marginalized neighborhood on Montevideo's outskirts grappling with drug trafficking and gang violence. The local church actively collaborates with authorities on various support initiatives, including housing construction and addiction recovery programs. The Pope will also celebrate Mass in Paysandú, a city chosen for its accessibility to those in the northern part of the country and its proximity to the Argentine city of Colón.
The visit commences with a welcome ceremony at Montevideo's Plaza Independencia, a potent symbol of Uruguay's national identity. A significant moment will be the commemoration of the Virgin of the Thirty-three on November 8, Uruguay's patron saint, an icon interwoven with the nation's history and patriotism. This observance, coupled with paying homage to independence hero José Gervasio Artigas, aims to highlight the intrinsic connection between Uruguay's secular nationhood and its Catholic heritage, suggesting a continued relevance for faith even in highly secular societies.
Argentina: Echoes of Francis and Economic Challenges
Pope Leo XIV's visit to Argentina will inevitably be shadowed by the complex legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who, despite being Argentinian, never undertook a papal visit to his homeland. The American pontiff will formally honor Francis at Buenos Aires' cathedral and symbolically at the federal prison where Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio once ministered.
A key encounter will be with the nation's libertarian President Javier Milei, who has previously made critical remarks about Pope Francis. Relations between Milei's government and Argentine church leaders have been strained due to sweeping spending cuts, particularly those affecting disability funding, which critics argue prioritize economic orthodoxy over the needs of the vulnerable.
This tension is expected to be evident during Leo XIV's visit to the Don Orione care home in Claypole, an institution housing over 400 individuals with disabilities that has reported severe economic difficulties exacerbated by the government's austerity measures. Further discussions on the nation's economic crisis, including rising unemployment, poverty, and declining purchasing power, are anticipated when the Pope meets with business leaders, trade unions, and social representatives at the Argentine Catholic University.
An additional potential point of discussion could involve artificial intelligence. While Milei has actively courted AI investment with promises of deregulation, Pope Leo XIV has previously voiced concerns about the potential threats of an unregulated AI race to humanity and the environment, advocating for strict international safeguards.
Peru: A Return to Roots and Contemporary Challenges
The emotional highlight of the tour will undoubtedly be Pope Leo XIV's return to Peru, his "second homeland," and particularly his former diocese of Chiclayo. Having spent two decades ministering in Peru as a missionary priest and bishop, he credits the country and its people with profoundly shaping his pastoral identity.
His speeches, especially one planned in front of Lima's cathedral addressing the challenges and hopes of the Peruvian people, will be closely scrutinized due to his deep familiarity with the nation. Peru faces significant hurdles, including the impacts of El Niño, high crime rates, and persistent poverty and inequality, with over 25% of the population living in monetary poverty in 2025.
The Pope will also engage with various groups in Cusco, an ancient Inca capital, and will travel to Pucallpa in the Peruvian Amazon to celebrate Mass, honoring the nation's Indigenous peoples. His visit to Cusco's main square will carry historical resonance, as it was the site where Indigenous hero Túpac Amaru II was executed in 1781 following a major rebellion against Spanish rule.
Despite a decline in the Catholic population in Peru in recent years, large crowds are still anticipated to welcome the pontiff, reflecting the deep cultural ties between the nation and the Church.