Pope Leo XIV leaves Rome at 7 a.m. on Friday 6 November and lands in Montevideo at 4:30 p.m. to begin an 11-day apostolic journey through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, according to the official programme published by the Holy See. He returns to Rome on 17 November.
It is his first tour of the region since his election, and it takes him back to the country where he was a bishop: he led the diocese of Chiclayo, in northern Peru, before being called to Rome. In Argentina, it will be the first visit by a pope since John Paul II in 1987.
Uruguay: Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida
His arrival includes a welcome ceremony at the Plaza Independencia, a meeting with authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps, a visit to the president, and vespers with bishops, clergy and seminarians at the Metropolitan Cathedral.
On Saturday 7 he celebrates Mass at 10 a.m. at Parque París Londres in Paysandú. That afternoon he visits the Casavalle neighbourhood, meets the world of education at the Universidad Católica del Uruguay (Catholic University of Uruguay) and leads a prayer vigil at the Estadio Centenario.
On Sunday 8 he celebrates Mass in the square of the Cathedral Basilica of Florida, the national shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, has lunch with the bishops and is given a farewell at Montevideo airport at 3:10 p.m.
Argentina: Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján
He reaches Buenos Aires at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday 8. He visits the San Martín monument, is received at the Casa Rosada (the seat of Argentina's government) and meets authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps at the Palacio Libertad.
On Monday 9 he visits the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole and celebrates Mass at 11:30 a.m. at the Monumento de los Españoles. In the afternoon he meets the world of work at the Universidad Católica Argentina (Catholic University of Argentina) and leaders of Christian communities and other religious traditions at the Palacio San Martín.
On Tuesday 10 he celebrates Mass on the esplanade of the Escuela de Aviación Militar (Military Aviation School) in Córdoba, meets the local episcopate and, back in Buenos Aires, leads a youth vigil at 8:15 p.m. at the Monumento de los Españoles.
On Wednesday 11 he visits the Federal Penitentiary Complex of Buenos Aires at 8 a.m. and celebrates Mass at the Basilica of Luján before flying to Lima.
The journey arrives in a country where the bishops have been among the firmest critics of Javier Milei's government over its austerity policy, according to MercoPress.
Peru: Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and the Amazon
He lands at the Callao Air Base at 5:30 p.m. on 11 November, is received at the Palacio de Gobierno (the seat of Peru's government) and meets authorities at the Gran Teatro Nacional. On Thursday 12 there is prayer at Lima's cathedral, a gathering on the challenges facing the Peruvian people in the cathedral square, and a vigil with young people and university students at the Estadio Nacional.
On Friday 13 he arrives in Chiclayo, celebrates Mass at the Pampas de Pimentel, pays a private visit to the chapel of St Óscar A. Romero and meets the university world at the Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo. On Saturday 14 he crowns the Immaculate Virgin at the Cathedral of Santa María, travels by helicopter to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba for an 11 a.m. Mass, and in the afternoon closes the Jubilee Year of St Toribio de Mogrovejo at the saint's shrine.
Sunday 15 is the longest day: at 10:30 a.m. he meets representatives of popular piety at Saqsaywaman, in Cusco, prays the Angelus in the cathedral square and in the afternoon flies to Pucallpa, where he meets missionaries and representatives of Amazonian peoples at the Malecón Puerto Callao and celebrates Mass at the Villa Deportiva Regional de Ucayali.
On Monday 16 he visits a home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, celebrates Mass at the Las Palmas Air Base and departs for Rome at 1:45 p.m.
With information from the Holy See and MercoPress.
