Vatican Presents Programme for Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru

Vatican City, November 4, 2026: The Holy See Press Office presented the programme for Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming Apostolic Journey to Latin America, outlining his twelve-day visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru during a press briefing held on Tuesday, November 3. The journey will include visits to ten cities, approximately a dozen flights and around 40 addresses, all delivered in Spanish.

During the briefing, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, explained that the Apostolic Journey would centre on communion, encounter and unity, bringing the Holy Father into contact with local Church communities, civil authorities and people from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. The programme will include Eucharistic celebrations, meetings and addresses throughout the three countries.

A Journey of Communion, Encounter and Unity

Bruni highlighted that Pope Leo XIV would carry a message of communion and unity throughout the journey. While the visit to Peru would have particular personal significance as a homecoming for the Holy Father, each destination would provide an opportunity to encounter its people, history, social realities and faith.

Another important theme of the journey will be the universal call to holiness, inviting every Christian to bear witness through personal commitment, faith and responsibility towards others.

In this context, Bruni recalled several saints and blesseds associated with the three countries. They include Blessed Jacinto Vera of Uruguay; Enrique Shaw, St José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero and St María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, known as Mama Antula, of Argentina; and St Rose of Lima, St Martin de Porres and St Toribio de Mogrovejo of Peru.

Their lives, he noted, offer diverse examples of Christian holiness through pastoral dedication, professional and family life, missionary activity, charity and evangelisation.

Personal Significance of the Visit to Peru

The Apostolic Journey will hold particular personal significance for Pope Leo XIV, who spent several years in Peru carrying out missionary and pastoral ministry. His return will provide an opportunity to revisit places and communities that played an important role in shaping his ministry and understanding of pastoral service.

The Holy Father is also expected to meet members of Augustinian communities during the journey, including in Argentina and upon his arrival in Peru.

Bruni further confirmed that the Pope would meet victims of clerical sexual abuse during the course of the journey.

Uruguay: First Stop of the Apostolic Journey

Pope Leo XIV will begin his journey in Uruguay, where he will remain from November 6 to 8, visiting Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida.

The motto for this stage of the visit is “I bring you news of great joy”, drawn from the angel's announcement to the shepherds in Bethlehem. The visit will mark the first papal journey to Uruguay since St John Paul II travelled to the country in 1988.

During the question-and-answer session, Maria Montserrat Alvarado, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, addressed questions about the choice of Uruguay as a destination, considering its secular character.

Responding to the observation that some people ask why the Pope should visit a country as secular as Uruguay, she said, “I say: ‘Why not?’ The Gospel is meant to go everywhere.”

Argentina: A Visit to the Homeland of Pope Francis

On November 8, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Argentina, where he will remain until November 11. His programme includes visits to Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján.

The visit carries particular significance as Argentina is the homeland of the late Pope Francis. The Holy Father will visit the country almost four decades after the last papal visit, when St John Paul II travelled there in 1987.

The motto for this stage of the Apostolic Journey is “Welcome everyone. Go and proclaim.”

Peru: A Homecoming for Pope Leo XIV

On November 11, the Pope will travel to Peru, where he will remain until November 17, visiting Lima, Chiclayo, Cuzco and Pucallpa.

The motto for this stage is “Let us open our hearts.”

Having spent several years in the country in missionary and pastoral ministry, Pope Leo XIV's return will be an opportunity to reconnect with the places and communities that contributed to his formation as a pastor.

Pope Leo XIV Looks Forward to the Journey

During the briefing, Alvarado spoke about the Holy Father's enthusiasm for the upcoming Apostolic Journey, confirming that he had personally approved the trip and was looking forward to it.

She said that the Pope was grateful for the concern and affection expressed by the faithful, particularly regarding his health and the demands of such an extensive journey.

“He is so excited,” she said. “He personally confirmed this trip, with no changes.”

Acknowledging the concerns expressed by people, she added, “Everyone is concerned because everyone loves the Holy Father. And that's a beautiful thing. He's so grateful.”

Alvarado explained that the Pope viewed these expressions of concern as signs of people's affection and hope for the journey.

She identified two important dimensions of the visit, the first being its character as a homecoming. According to her, Peru holds a deep personal connection for Pope Leo XIV because of the role it played in shaping his ministry and pastoral understanding.

“This is a place that gave him his ministry and inspired who he is as a pastor,” she said, explaining that his experience in the country had influenced his understanding of encounter and the diverse needs of the Church.

Alvarado: Pope Asks Journalists to Share His Message of Peace and Encounter

The second dimension of the journey concerns the Pope's desire to communicate his message to the wider world.

Alvarado read a message that the Holy Father had personally asked her to share with journalists:

“He is personally looking forward to this journey and hopes that you will help share his message of peace and encounter with the world, so that others can see what he knows through personal experience: the wonderful way the Church is expressed in Latin America through its diverse peoples and cultures.”

She explained that the Pope hopes the journey will help the world appreciate the diversity of the Church and recognise the importance of encounter in promoting healing and peace.

Programme Reflects the Pope's Pastoral Vision

Alvarado also emphasised the importance of dialogue in building understanding, observing that the various elements of the programme “show you his heart.”

Although the itinerary has been shaped by requests from governments and coordinated with the respective Episcopal Conferences, she said the Pope would seek to make the most of every opportunity to meet people and share his pastoral vision.

She also indicated that journalists would witness a spontaneous side of the Holy Father, recalling his approach during his visit to Spain.

“You will see him as you saw him in Spain, giving away his heart and speaking in a language that is true to him. You will see that again, but in a totally different way because he knows these streets,” she said.

Alvarado anticipated that the Pope might frequently depart from prepared texts and offer improvised remarks. While this could make the work of journalists more demanding, she described it as something beautiful, reflecting his desire to communicate personally and authentically with the people he encounters.

Social Justice and Care for the Vulnerable

Questions from journalists also addressed the social justice dimensions of the Apostolic Journey.

In response, Bruni pointed to the programme's scheduled encounters with prisoners, visits to places affected by environmental exploitation and opportunities for the Pope to be close to the poor and vulnerable.

These encounters, alongside the meetings and celebrations planned across the three countries, will form an important part of the Holy Father's message of solidarity, encounter and peace.

Journalists also raised questions about the Pope's health. Responding to these concerns, Bruni and Alvarado confirmed that no changes had been made to the programme, stating that the Holy Father was in great health and that the surgery had resolved the concern, leaving him with no permanent condition.

Courtesy: Vatican News