LIMA, Peru — Peruvian President José María Balcázar announced Thursday that Pope Leo XIV is expected to travel to Peru during the first half of November.
Following a meeting with the pontiff at the Vatican, Balcázar said the Pope’s itinerary would include stops in Puno, Iquitos, Cusco, Pucallpa, Piura, and Chiclayo — the city where Leo spent nearly a decade carrying out his pastoral ministry. The Chicago-born pope previously resided in Trujillo, along Peru’s northwestern coast, and became a Peruvian citizen in 2015.
Speaking to local radio station RPP, the Peruvian president explained that specific details of the schedule would be disclosed at a later date, citing “religious policy and security reasons.”
While the Vatican has yet to officially confirm any upcoming travel plans, a visit to Peru — with possible stops in other South American nations — has been widely discussed. Pope Leo himself has spoken publicly about his desire to make such a journey.
“Argentina and Uruguay are awaiting the Pope’s visit. I believe Peru would also welcome me with open arms, and if I go to Peru, I would also visit many neighboring countries, but the plan is not yet finalized,” the pontiff told reporters in December upon returning from Lebanon.
Chiclayo, located roughly 14 kilometers (9 miles) from the Pacific Ocean, is a city of more than 800,000 residents and serves as a key commercial center along Peru’s northern coast. The city also grapples with significant social challenges, with approximately 20% of its population living in poverty.
Leo lived and worked in Chiclayo for nearly a decade before departing for Rome in 2023, when then-Pope Francis asked him to take over the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
When Leo XIV delivered his first public words as pope to the jubilant crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he spoke in Spanish and made a direct reference to the city: “My beloved diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop and shared their faith.” The people of Chiclayo responded with tremendous joy and celebration.
