VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will embark on a three-nation tour of South America this November, marking his longest international journey so far and returning to the country where he spent two decades serving as a priest and bishop.
The Vatican released the official schedule for the November 6 to 17 voyage, which will take the 71-year-old pontiff to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The American-born Pope, who also holds Peruvian citizenship, will cover more than 31,000 kilometers in air travel during his first papal return to Latin America.
The upcoming trip surpasses the 17,000-kilometer itinerary of his four-country African journey in April, reflecting the Pope’s willingness to manage demanding schedules and extensive travel.
The expedition will open in Uruguay, a nation known for its strongly secular culture where public holidays reflect non-religious names, such as “Tourism Week” for Holy Week and “Family Day” for Christmas. During his stay, the Pope will visit a parish in Casavalle, an impoverished area near Montevideo affected by gang activity and illegal drug trade.
His time in Uruguay will also coincide with the November 8 celebration honoring Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, the country’s patron saint.
The voyage will additionally include a stop in Argentina, a country that his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, did not revisit after his election to the papacy.