Pope Leo XIV plans November 2026 visit to Peru

Pope Leo XIV is planning a significant pastoral visit to Peru in early November, a trip that would mark a return to a country where he lived and served for decades. The potential eight-to-ten-day itinerary was confirmed by Peruvian President José María Balcázar following a nearly two-hour private audience with the pontiff at the Vatican on June 18.

President Balcázar stated the pope intends to visit five cities during the first half of November: Lima, Chiclayo, Piura, Pucallpa, and Cusco. The final route is still being determined by the papal logistics team, and additional stops in Puno, Iquitos, or Arequipa have not been ruled out. Balcázar also proposed a helicopter transfer to the high Andean towns of Incahuasi and Cañaris, noting the pope's desire to cover as many small towns as possible, particularly in the north and jungle regions.

The pope, who holds dual Peruvian and American citizenship, served as the Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 until his transfer to the Vatican in 2023. Balcázar reported that Pope Leo spoke warmly of his time there and expressed excitement about returning to eat local dishes. The president described their meeting as friendly and said they discussed a...