Pope Leo XIV begins 12-day South America tour in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru

Summary

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay on Friday to begin a 12-day tour of South America that will also take him to Argentina and Peru. The trip includes meetings and Mass in all three countries and is described as the longest and farthest of his papacy so far. Reports frame it as a homecoming: the pope spent almost two decades in Peru as a missionary priest and bishop, calls it his second homeland, and holds Peruvian citizenship. Argentina is the homeland of the late Pope Francis, who never visited the country during his 12-year papacy. In Uruguay, the pope called for healthcare to be accessible to all, three weeks after undergoing lung surgery. Ahead of the visit, a Peruvian sculptor unveiled a giant statue of the pontiff in Peru.

Timeline

1. ABC News

   6 Nov 2026, 05:40 UTCSource ↗

   ABC News reports that Pope Leo XIV is returning to the continent where he spent two decades as a missionary priest, visiting Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, which it calls his second homeland.

2. Deutsche Welle

   6 Nov 2026, 08:52 UTCSource ↗

   Deutsche Welle reports that Pope Leo is setting off on a 12-day South America tour with meetings and Mass in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, which it says is the longest and farthest trip of his papacy so far.

3. Euronews

   6 Nov 2026, 12:33 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that Pope Leo XIV has departed for Uruguay to begin his South America tour, with Argentina, the homeland of the late Pope Francis, next and Peru as the final stop, where Leo holds citizenship and spent two decades as a missionary and bishop.

4. CBC News

   6 Nov 2026, 17:09 UTCSource ↗

   CBC News reports that Peru has unveiled a giant statue of Pope Leo, a tribute by a Peruvian sculptor, ahead of his Latin America visit.

5. PBS NewsHour

   6 Nov 2026, 17:13 UTCSource ↗

   PBS NewsHour reports that Pope Leo XIV is returning home to the continent where he spent two decades as a missionary priest, visiting Uruguay, Argentina and his second homeland of Peru.

6. France 24

   6 Nov 2026, 21:14 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Pope Leo called for healthcare to be accessible to all as he began a visit to Uruguay on Friday, three weeks after lung surgery, on a 12-day South America tour that is a homecoming for a pontiff who lived in Peru for almost two decades and holds joint US and Peruvian citizenship.