Pope Leo XIV is set to make his first official visit to Latin America as head of the Catholic Church, with a tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru scheduled for November 6 to 17, 2026.
The Vatican announced the trip on Wednesday, describing it as a significant return to a region that played a central role in the Pope’s ministry before his election to the papacy. The visit will begin in Uruguay, where Pope Leo will travel to Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida from November 6 to 8.
He will then continue to Argentina, visiting Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján between November 8 and 11, before concluding the tour in Peru, with stops in Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa from November 11 to 17. The Vatican said additional details of the itinerary will be released closer to the visit.
The Peru leg of the trip is expected to be especially meaningful, as Pope Leo spent much of his ministry in the South American nation. Although born in Chicago, United States, he first arrived in Peru in 1985 as a missionary and later served as Bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo after his appointment by Pope Francis in 2014.
He became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 and led the Diocese of Chiclayo until 2023. Following his election as Pope in 2025, he paid tribute to the people of Chiclayo during his inaugural address, prompting widespread celebrations in the city, where many affectionately refer to him as the first “Pope from Chiclayo.
“The Argentina visit also carries historical significance. Pope Leo will become the first pontiff to visit the country since Pope John Paul II’s trip in 1987. His predecessor, Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina, never returned to his homeland during his 12-year papacy despite receiving multiple invitations from successive governments. The tour will also mark the first papal visit to Uruguay in nearly four decades.
Latin America remains home to the world’s largest Catholic population, although the Church has experienced declining membership in recent decades. According to previous research by the Pew Research Center, the region accounted for the largest share of the global Catholic population, while more recent surveys have shown a gradual decline in the percentage of people identifying as Catholic alongside the growth of evangelical Christian communities.
Since becoming pope, Leo XIV has maintained an active international schedule. Before travelling to South America, he is expected to visit France from September 25 to 28, following earlier trips this year to four African countries and Spain.
