Pope Leo XIV Set for Emotional Return to South America on 12-Day Pastoral Tour
Pope Leo XIV will visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6-17. The Chicago-born pontiff returns to his adopted home to address regional social issues.
POLICY WIRE — Rome, Italy — Pope Leo XIV is preparing for a significant apostolic journey across South America, marking his first visit to the continent since ascending to the papacy. The 12-day tour, scheduled for November 6-17, will see the pontiff travel to 10 cities across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
The Vatican has confirmed that the itinerary will proceed as planned, with the Pope’s physician, Luigi Carbone, noting that there are no medical concerns regarding the rigorous schedule. The trip involves a dozen flights and two helicopter excursions to high-altitude locations.
For the Chicago-born Pope, the visit serves as a sentimental homecoming to the region where he spent decades serving as a missionary and bishop. He famously obtained Peruvian citizenship during his time there, earning a reputation for his grassroots work, including feeding families during the Covid pandemic, providing flood relief, and advocating for migrants.
The tour will take the Pope from Uruguay, often cited as one of Latin America’s least religious nations, to Argentina—the homeland of the late Pope Francis—before concluding in Peru. This marks the Pope’s first visit to Argentina since 1987.
Expressing his anticipation for the trip, the Pope shared his sentiments on his X account on October 26. He wrote, It fills me with joy to return to the continent where I have lived through so many moments of my life.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
