Pope Leo XIV to travel to Peru, Argentina and Uruguay in November

Pope Francis will embark on his first papal visit to Latin America this spring, with the opening leg of the itinerary scheduled for Peru. The Holy See announced that the pontiff will land in Lima on March 12, where he will celebrate Mass at the historic San Francisco Church and meet with local clergy and civil authorities before traveling to other sites in the country. The trip, which marks the first time the pope has returned to the continent since his election in 2013, is being framed as an opportunity to reaffirm the Church’s commitment to the region’s social and environmental challenges.

The Peruvian leg holds particular resonance for Francis, who spent more than two decades in the country as a missionary, parish priest, and later as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Lima before being appointed its archbishop in 2010. His pastoral work in the Andes and the Amazon basin shaped his emphasis on humility, care for the poor, and ecological stewardship—issues that have defined his papacy. By revisiting the nation where he first exercised episcopal ministry, the pope aims to reconnect with the faithful who witnessed his early ministry and to highlight the ongoing need for solidarity and dialogue across Latin America.