ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV will retrace his steps as a missionary priest when he returns to Peru in November in his longest trip to date that will also take him to Uruguay and Argentina. The Vatican published the detailed itinerary for Leo's first visit to Latin America as pope, scheduled from Nov. 6-17. The trip will be significant for the U.S.-born pontiff, who also holds Peruvian citizenship and spent two decades there as a priest and bishop.
During the trip, Leo will cover over 31,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) of flight time. The visit begins in Uruguay, where he will stop at a parish in Casavalle, a neighborhood affected by drug trafficking and gang violence. This stop coincides with an important Catholic feast day on Nov. 8, associated with the country's patron saint, Our Lady of the Thirty-Three.
Following Uruguay, Leo will arrive in Argentina, where officials expect around 7 million people to attend his events. His predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in 2025, did not return to Argentina after becoming pope, which has been a point of discussion among observers.
In Buenos Aires, Leo will meet with President Javier Milei, who has previously criticized Francis. Milei's government has faced backlash from church leaders regarding economic policies that prioritize austerity over social welfare. On Nov. 9, Leo will visit the Don Orione care home in Claypole, a Catholic institution that houses individuals with disabilities, amid ongoing debates about funding cuts.
Leo will also celebrate his first Mass in Argentina at the Monumento de los Españoles, a site previously visited by St. John Paul II during the Falklands War.
The highlight of Leo's trip will be his return to Peru, particularly to his former diocese of Chiclayo, where he will celebrate Mass. He plans to revisit churches and schools where he built relationships as bishop. An estimated 1 million people are expected to gather at Pampas de Pimentel for the Mass. He will also pray at a chapel dedicated to St. Oscar Romero, which was renovated during his tenure as bishop.
In Cusco, Leo will meet with local groups and celebrate Mass in the main square, a site of historical significance. On Nov. 15, he will honor Peru's Indigenous peoples by traveling to Pucallpa in the Amazon to celebrate Mass there.