LIMA, PERU — Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Peru for a six-day pastoral visit, marking the final and most personal leg of his three-country tour of South America.
The pontiff landed at Callao Air Base on Wednesday, November 11, where he received an official welcome from Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori and other government representatives.
The arrival was marked by emotional scenes as thousands of people lined the streets of Lima to welcome the Pope, waving Peruvian and Vatican flags. The Vatican estimated that approximately three million people gathered along his motorcade route.
For Leo, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, the visit represents a homecoming to a country where he spent decades serving as a Catholic missionary and church leader.
Born in Chicago, United States, the pontiff holds both American and Peruvian citizenship. He first arrived in Peru in 1985 as an Augustinian missionary and later served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023 before his election as Pope in 2025.
A Warm Welcome in His Adopted Homeland
During the official welcome ceremony at the Government Palace, Pope Leo met privately with President Fujimori and participated in engagements with government officials, civil society representatives and members of the diplomatic corps.
The Pope’s return has generated widespread excitement among Peruvians, many of whom remember him as a religious leader who worked closely with local communities.
His visit is also expected to provide an opportunity to address the country’s social and economic challenges, including poverty, insecurity, political instability and corruption.
Visit to Chiclayo, Cusco and the Amazon
Beyond Lima, the six-day visit will take the pontiff to several regions with deep personal and cultural significance.
In Chiclayo, where he previously served as bishop, he is expected to celebrate Mass and meet members of the Catholic community.
He will also visit Cusco, the historic centre of the Inca civilisation, and Pucallpa in the Amazon region, where he is scheduled to meet missionaries and representatives of Indigenous communities.
Environmental protection, the rights of Indigenous peoples, illegal mining and poverty are among the issues expected to feature prominently during his engagements in the Amazon.
A Significant Moment for the Catholic Church
The Peru visit concludes Pope Leo XIV’s first major South American tour, which also included Uruguay and Argentina.
His return to Peru carries particular significance because of his long association with the country and the influence it had on his religious journey.
The pontiff is scheduled to celebrate a major Mass at Las Palmas Air Base in Lima on November 16 before departing for Rome.
His visit is expected to strengthen the Catholic Church’s relationship with Peruvian communities while drawing international attention to the country’s social, environmental and humanitarian concerns.
Sources: Reuters | Associated Press | Vatican News | Vatican official itinerary
