Pope Leo XIV is visiting Peru as part of his first apostolic journey to South America, bringing him back to a country where he spent many years as a missionary and later served as Bishop of Chiclayo. His visit, taking place from 11 to 17 November, has particular significance for Peruvians because of his personal, pastoral and national ties to the country.

The Peruvian leg is part of a wider journey through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, scheduled from 6 to 17 November. Beyond its religious importance, the visit offers an opportunity for the Pope to reconnect with communities he knows well and address issues affecting Peruvian society.

Why Peru holds a special place in Pope Leo XIV’s life

Although Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago, United States, his connection with Peru goes back decades.

Born Robert Francis Prevost on 14 September 1955, he first arrived in Peru in 1985, when he was assigned to an Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, in the Piura region. He later returned in 1988 to work in Trujillo, where he held several pastoral and educational responsibilities.

His relationship with the country became even closer when Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in November 2014. He subsequently became its bishop in September 2015 and remained in the role until his appointment to the Vatican in January 2023.

A particularly significant detail is that Prevost acquired Peruvian citizenship through naturalisation on 24 August 2015. This makes his return more than a diplomatic or religious visit: it is also a homecoming for a Pope who has lived and worked among Peruvian communities for many years.

These details are confirmed in the official biography published by the Holy See.

 

When is Pope Leo XIV visiting Peru?

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Peru runs from 11 to 17 November 2026.

His programme includes Lima, Chiclayo, Pimentel, Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, Zaña, Cusco and Pucallpa.

The following is the published itinerary for the Peruvian leg:

The programme was published by the Holy See Press Office.

 

Lima welcomes the Pope

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on 11 November after completing the Argentina leg of his journey. His aircraft landed at the Callao Naval Air Base, where the official welcome took place.

He then travelled to the Government Palace in Lima for the welcome ceremony and a meeting with the President of Peru, Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi.

According to the Vatican’s account, local authorities estimated that approximately three million people were present to welcome the Pope. The figure reflects the scale of the public reception reported by the authorities, rather than an independently verified attendance count.

Later, at the Gran Teatro Nacional, the Pope met representatives of the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps. His address focused on Peru’s identity, the importance of social cooperation and the responsibilities of public life.

 

The Pope addresses Peru’s challenges and hopes

One of the central moments of the visit took place on 12 November, when Pope Leo XIV met members of the Peruvian Church and addressed the challenges and hopes of the country’s people.

Speaking in the square in front of Lima’s Cathedral, he referred to issues including family life, cultural diversity, employment and the condition of women. He presented these subjects as interconnected aspects of human life rather than isolated concerns.

The address was especially relevant because it went beyond the ceremonial dimension of the visit. It connected the Church’s pastoral mission with the everyday realities experienced by families and communities across Peru.

The Pope also met the country’s bishops and participated in a gathering with religious communities at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist.

In the evening, he attended a prayer vigil with young people and university students at the National Stadium. The Vatican reported that around 60,000 young people were inside the stadium, with local authorities estimating a further 300,000 people in the surrounding areas.

 

Chiclayo: a particularly meaningful stop

For Pope Leo XIV, the visit to Chiclayo is arguably the most personal part of the Peruvian journey.

He served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 until 2023, building relationships with local clergy, religious communities and residents. His return therefore carries a significance that goes beyond the usual programme of a papal visit.

On 13 November, the official itinerary takes him from Lima to Chiclayo and nearby Pimentel. The programme includes:

• Holy Mass in an open area near the Pampas de Pimentel.

• A private visit to the San Óscar A. Romero Chapel.

• A meeting with bishops, priests, religious communities, seminarians and pastoral representatives at the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace.

• A meeting with the university community at the Catholic University Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo.

• Dinner with priests of the Diocese of Chiclayo.

These activities place the local Church and the communities that shaped his years in Peru at the centre of this stage of the journey.

 

Cusco and Pucallpa: taking the visit beyond the capital

The journey also extends to two very different parts of Peru.

On 15 November, the Pope is scheduled to travel to Cusco, where he will meet the faithful and representatives of popular devotion at the Saqsaywaman archaeological park. The programme also includes the Angelus prayer in the square in front of the city’s Cathedral Basilica.

He will then travel to Pucallpa, in the Peruvian Amazon region, for a meeting with missionaries and representatives of Amazonian peoples at Malecón Puerto Callao. A Holy Mass is scheduled at the Villa Deportiva Regional Ucayali.

The inclusion of Pucallpa gives the journey a particular regional dimension. It brings the Pope into contact with communities and missionary organisations working in an area where questions concerning local identity, the environment and the lives of Amazonian peoples are especially relevant.

The Vatican itinerary confirms both stops and their scheduled activities.

 

What happens after the Peru visit?

The final day of the Peruvian programme is scheduled for 16 November.

In Lima and Callao, Pope Leo XIV is due to visit the staff and residents of a shelter run by the Little Sisters for abandoned older people. He will then celebrate Mass at Las Palmas Air Base before taking part in the farewell ceremony at Callao Naval Air Base.

His flight to Rome is scheduled for 13:45 local time on 16 November, with arrival in Rome listed for the following day.

This will bring the South American apostolic journey to an end after visits to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

 

Our analysis: more than a ceremonial return

Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Peru has an importance that is difficult to separate from his personal history. Unlike a country that a Pope visits for the first time, Peru is a place where he worked as a missionary, led a diocese and acquired citizenship.

That background gives his meetings with local communities a particular meaning. His return to Chiclayo is especially significant because it reconnects him with the people and institutions he served before becoming Pope.

The visit also has a wider message. By including Lima, the northern coast, Cusco and Pucallpa, the programme recognises the diversity of Peru and the different communities that make up the country.

From ABN News’s perspective, the most meaningful measure of this journey will not simply be the size of the crowds or the number of ceremonies. Its lasting value will depend on whether the messages delivered during the visit encourage stronger community ties, attention to vulnerable people and constructive engagement with the social challenges raised by the Pope.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Pope Leo XIV visiting Peru?

He is visiting as part of his apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The visit also has personal significance because he spent many years serving the Catholic Church in Peru.

Was Pope Leo XIV a bishop in Peru?

Yes. He served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 until 2023, after first being appointed Apostolic Administrator of the diocese in 2014.

Does Pope Leo XIV have Peruvian citizenship?

Yes. According to his official Vatican biography, Robert Francis Prevost acquired Peruvian citizenship through naturalisation on 24 August 2015.

Which Peruvian cities is the Pope visiting?

The published programme includes Lima, Chiclayo, Pimentel, Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, Zaña, Cusco and Pucallpa.

When will Pope Leo XIV leave Peru?

His departure for Rome is scheduled for 16 November 2026, following a visit to a shelter for older people and a Holy Mass at Las Palmas Air Base.

Official Sources

1. Holy See Press Office — Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru: Programme (6–17 November 2026)
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/09/21/260921e.html

2. Vatican — Biography of the Holy Father Leo XIV
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/biography/documents/biografia_leone-xiv.html

3. Vatican — Meeting with the Authorities, Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps in Lima (11 November 2026)
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2026/november/documents/20261111-peru-autorita-lima.html

4. Vatican — Meeting on the Challenges and Hopes for the Future of the Peruvian People (12 November 2026)
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2026/november/documents/20261112-peru-futuro.html

5. Holy See Press Office — Meeting with the Bishops of Peru (12 November 2026)
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/11/12/261112b.html