The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, has officially announced what in recent months had been seen as one of the most anticipated moments on the Vatican agenda: Pope Leo XIV will make his first apostolic journey to South America between November 6 and 17, 2026. Responding to formal invitations extended by heads of state and local episcopates, the Holy Father will undertake a twelve-day itinerary encompassing ten cities in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

First stop: Uruguay (November 6-8)

The South American tour will begin in Uruguay. Over three days, the Pope will visit the capital,  Montevideo , as well as the cities of  Paysandú  and  Florida . In Florida is located the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, patron saint of the country, a site of profound significance for the faith of the local community.

Argentine stage: Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján (November 8-11)

On November 8, Leo XIV will cross the Río de la Plata to begin his visit to the Republic of Argentina, a destination of great pastoral and institutional anticipation. His tour of the country will extend until November 11 and will include three key locations:  Buenos Aires , the city of  Córdoba  , and the Marian shrine of  Luján , home to the national sanctuary that attracts the largest pilgrimages in the country.

Return to his pastoral roots: Peru (November 11-17)

The final and longest leg of the journey will take place in Peru, a nation with which Leo XIV maintains deep personal and pastoral ties. It is worth recalling that the Pope resided in the country for two decades as an Augustinian missionary, holds Peruvian citizenship, and served as Bishop of  Chiclayo  between 2015 and 2023.

In addition to his return to Chiclayo—one of the most emotionally charged moments of the tour—the Peruvian itinerary will include the capital,  Lima , the emblematic city of  Cusco  , and the Amazonian town of  Pucallpa , in the department of Ucayali. The inclusion of the Amazon region reflects the ongoing attention the Holy See pays to indigenous communities and the preservation of the socio-environmental landscape.

Awaiting the detailed program

The Holy See has indicated that the official program, with the schedules for liturgies, institutional meetings, and pastoral gatherings, will be announced in due course as coordination efforts between the Vatican and local authorities in the three nations progress.