The Vatican has released the itinerary for Pope Leo XIV’s first trip to South America, which will take him to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
The pope’s first Mass on the continent will be in the Uruguayan city of Paysandú on Saturday, November 7. He will celebrate it in honor of Blessed Jacinto Vera, with Argentines and Brazilians expected to attend. The theme of the trip, featured in its logo, is “I bring you news of great joy.”
On Saturday, Leo will visit Church projects and lead a Vigil at Centenario Stadium in Montevideo. The following day, he will celebrate Mass for the country’s patron saint in Florida, on the saint’s feast day.
That same afternoon, he will fly to Buenos Aires, where he will hold his first official meetings and celebrate a large Mass the following day, Monday, November 9.
The city of Córdoba will welcome him Tuesday, November 10, for Mass at the Military Aviation School. That night, he will return to Buenos Aires for a prayer gathering with young people.
The final stop will be Luján, home to the country’s patron saint, before the pope concludes a tour whose theme is “Welcome everyone. Go and proclaim.”
That same afternoon, Leo will travel to Peru, his adopted homeland, where he will stay from Wednesday through Monday. The motto there is “Let us open our hearts.”
His first major public gathering will be Thursday night, November 12, with young people at Lima’s Monumental Stadium.
In Chiclayo, the diocese where he served as bishop, he will spend two nights and visit other cities from there. The itinerary includes a Mass on Friday, the coronation of the Virgin Mary on Saturday, and the closing of the jubilee year of St. Toribio de Mogrovejo.
In the ancient city of Cusco, on Sunday, November 15, he will meet with representatives of Peru’s popular piety, as well as missionaries and representatives of Amazonian communities.
A Mass at the Callao air base on Monday, November 16, will be the final major event of the trip. He will return to Rome Tuesday, November 17, after traveling 10,840 kilometers and spending nearly 15 hours in transit.
