Pope Leo XIV’s South American itinerary includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru

Pope Leo XIV began an apostolic journey through South America on Friday, Nov. 6, with stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The trip runs through Nov. 17 and includes religious services and meetings with political officials, civil society representatives, young people, clergy and local communities. The Vatican announced the schedule, which covers several cities in the three countries. The trip comes less than a month after the pope was diagnosed with lung cancer. Among the scheduled highlights are a visit to a prison complex in Argentina and meetings with representatives of Indigenous Amazonian communities in Peru.

The pope’s first stop is Uruguay, where he is scheduled to stay from Nov. 6 to 8. In Montevideo on Friday, he will receive an official welcome, attend a ceremony at Plaza Independencia, meet with officials and visit the president. He is also scheduled to celebrate a service at the Metropolitan Cathedral. On Saturday, Leo XIV will travel to Paysandú to celebrate Mass at Parque París Londres. Back in Montevideo, he will visit the Casavalle social community at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and meet members of the educational community at the Catholic University of Uruguay. The day is set to conclude with a prayer vigil at Centenario Stadium. On Sunday, he will visit Florida and celebrate Mass outside the Florida Cathedral Basilica, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three. After lunch with bishops, he will depart for Buenos Aires.

Leo XIV’s Argentina visit is scheduled for Nov. 8-11. Upon arriving in Buenos Aires on Sunday, he will visit the Monument to General San Martín and the Armies of Independence in San Martín Square. He is also expected to attend a welcome ceremony at the Casa Rosada, visit the president and meet with government officials, civil society representatives and members of the diplomatic corps. On Monday, he will visit staff and residents at the Little Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole and celebrate Mass at the Monumento de los Españoles. His schedule also includes a meeting with the working community at the Catholic University of Argentina and a gathering with leaders of Christian communities and other religious traditions at San Martín Palace. On Tuesday, he will travel to Córdoba to celebrate Mass at the Military Aviation School and meet clergy and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. After returning to Buenos Aires, he will attend a youth vigil at the Monumento de los Españoles. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to visit the Buenos Aires Federal Penitentiary Complex and celebrate Mass in the square outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján before leaving for Lima, Peru.

The pope will be in Peru from Nov. 11 to 16. On arrival in Lima on Wednesday, he will receive an official welcome and attend a ceremony at the Government Palace, followed by a visit to the president and meetings with officials, civil society representatives and diplomats. On Thursday, he will meet with bishops, clergy and members of synodal teams. He will also take part in a discussion about challenges and prospects for Peru’s future in the square outside Lima Cathedral. A prayer vigil with young people and university students is planned for that evening at the National Stadium.

On Friday, Nov. 13, Leo XIV will travel to Chiclayo to celebrate Mass near the Pampas de Pimentel, make a private visit to the San Óscar A. Romero Chapel and meet with clergy and members of the university community. Saturday’s schedule includes the crowning of the Immaculate Virgin at St. Mary’s Cathedral, a Mass in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba and a prayer gathering marking the close of the jubilee year of St. Toribio de Mogrovejo. On Sunday, he will visit Cusco and Pucallpa. In Cusco, he is scheduled to meet with worshippers and representatives of popular devotion at the Saqsaywaman National Archaeological Park and pray the Angelus outside the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. In Pucallpa, he will meet missionaries and representatives of Amazonian peoples at the Puerto Callao waterfront and celebrate Mass at the Ucayali Regional Sports Complex before returning to Lima.

On Monday, Nov. 16, the pope is scheduled to visit staff and residents of a shelter run by the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly. He will also celebrate Mass at Las Palmas Air Base and attend a farewell ceremony in Callao before departing for Rome. His arrival in the Italian capital is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17, ending the South American journey.