Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru, Argentina and Uruguay in November

Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on a significant visit to Latin America, with a focus on Peru, from November 6-17. This will be the first papal visit to Argentina in almost four decades, following his predecessor's absence during his 13-year reign. The journey will commence in Uruguay, with Pope Leo spending two days in Montevideo, Paysandú, and Florida before moving on to Argentina.

His itinerary includes stops in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Luján. The Pope will also make a lengthy stop in Peru, visiting his former diocese of Chiclayo, as well as the capital city of Lima and the historic cities of Cusco and Pucallpa. The Pope's past experiences in Latin America, particularly during the Fujimori era, will prove invaluable as he navigates the complex political landscape of the countries he visits.

Keiko Fujimori, Peru's first female president, recently took office. Her government has successfully pulled the country out of economic turmoil and defeated the Shining Path guerrilla group. However, the Pope's visit comes at a time when the former President Alberto Fujimori, Keiko's father, was convicted of human rights abuses and received a controversial pardon in 2017.

Despite this, the Pope retains close ties to Peru and is expected to address the significance of his religious and cultural heritage during his visit.