Pope Leo XIV Visits Peru, Where His Path to the Papacy Began

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday, November 11, for his first visit to the country since becoming head of the Catholic Church in May 2025. Although he is American, the pope holds Peruvian citizenship and lived in the country for about 20 years, serving as a missionary and bishop.

Leo, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, first traveled to Peru in 1984. He was sent there to serve as a missionary with the Order of St. Augustine. His work in the country included leading the Diocese of Chiclayo, where he served from 2014 until moving to the Vatican in 2023.

During his eight years leading the diocese, Leo worked with vulnerable communities and followed local emergencies, including the 2017 floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. His ties to Chiclayo were also evident in his first speech after being announced as the Church’s leader: He paused his remarks in Italian to address Peruvian worshippers in Spanish.

“I want to offer a special greeting to my beloved Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people stood by their bishop, shared their faith and gave so much to remain a Church faithful to Jesus Christ,” Leo said.

The Peru visit followed the pope’s trip to Argentina. On Tuesday, November 10, his third day in the country, he celebrated Mass in Córdoba before an estimated crowd of more than 1 million people who had traveled from across Argentina. He arrived at Córdoba International Airport around 9 a.m. and went to the Military Aviation School complex, located on the grounds of the Argentine Aircraft Factory, for the 10 a.m. service.

After the Mass, Leo met with bishops, clergy members and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. He had been in Buenos Aires on Monday, November 9, for Catholic events attended by Argentine President Javier Milei.