Peruvian President Invites Foreign Leaders to Meeting with Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV landed today in Peru, marking the third and final stop of his journey through Latin America. This visit represents the pontiff's return to his adopted country, where he resided for over twenty years, a period that profoundly influenced his pastoral ministry.

In Peruvian territory, Robert Prevost began his trajectory as a missionary and later became a bishop, culminating in his Peruvian naturalization. After visiting Uruguay and Argentina, Peru will be the most extensive stage of this South American tour, with six days of programming.

During his stay, he will visit the cities of Lima, Cusco, Pucallpa, and Chiclayo, touring locations from his former diocese, where he served as bishop between 2015 and 2023.

The flight from Buenos Aires, carrying the Holy Father, landed at 5:00 PM (10:00 PM GMT) at the Jorge Chávez International Airport runway, which serves Lima and is located in the port province of Callao, neighboring the Peruvian capital.

Upon disembarking, the Pope was greeted by the President of Peru, Keiko Fujimori, and her Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Espá, who welcomed the pontiff back to the country.

At the airport, Leo XIV received a bouquet of flowers from a couple of children, while the children's choir of Sinfonia por el Perú, a project by Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez focused on musical education for low-income youth, sang a song.

The Pope also briefly stepped away from the red carpet shared with Fujimori to greet a group of orphaned children residing in state shelters before proceeding with protocol greetings to Peruvian bishops.

Leaving the airport, the Holy Father proceeded to the historic center of Lima, where he met with the Peruvian president at the Government Palace for a brief audience with her ministerial cabinet.

During the journey, he took a short ride in the 'Papamóvel' through some streets of old Lima before arriving at the central square of the Peruvian capital, where the Government Palace is located.

After meeting with Fujimori, the pontiff will head to the National Theater of Lima. There, he will greet other state authorities and the diplomatic corps accredited in Peru, an occasion when he will deliver his first speech during the visit to the Andean country.

The Pope's stay in Peru will last until Monday, with a full schedule of activities. Since Robert Prevost was born in Chicago, United States, and was named Pope, he delivered affectionate words in Spanish from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, awaited by Peruvians to show their appreciation.

Leo XIV's first trip to Latin America began on November 6th and will end on the 16th, just three weeks after undergoing surgery in Rome to remove a lower lobe of the right lung due to lung cancer.

Between November 11 and 16, Pope Leo XIV will participate in his first apostolic journey through South America, visiting Peru. This trip represents the pontiff's return to his country of nationality and where he developed part of his religious life.

Before being elected pope, Robert Francis Prevost served as a bishop in Chiclayo, a city included in this visit's itinerary. Through the Leo Route, a tourist initiative promoted by PROMPERÚ, visitors can explore sites related to the pontiff's pastoral trajectory, complementing the route with historical, cultural, and natural points.

Lima will be the pope's first stop in Peruvian territory, with activities scheduled for November 11 and 12. His arrival is expected at 5:30 PM at the Callao Naval Air Base. The official reception will take place at the Government Palace, where he will meet with President Keiko Fujimori. The agenda also includes meetings with diplomats, civil society representatives, and other authorities at the National Grand Theater.

The following day, the pontiff will have religious commitments in the historic center of Lima. In the morning, he will meet with Peruvian bishops at the Archbishop's Palace and participate in a celebration at the Lima Cathedral Basilica. This cathedral, located in front of the Plaza Mayor, is considered one of the main examples of the city's colonial religious architecture.

In addition to sites linked to the papal visit, tourists in the capital have the opportunity to visit Miraflores and Barranco, neighborhoods highly sought after by visitors, known for their restaurants and Pacific Ocean-facing areas.

Chiclayo, the capital of the Lambayeque region, is one of the central stops of the trip. In the city, the pontiff is recognized by some of the population by the nickname 'Father Roberto,' the name he was known by during his religious work in the region.

The pope will arrive in Chiclayo on the morning of November 13 and will celebrate mass on the esplanade adjacent to the Pampas de Pimentel. Afterwards, he will visit the Chapel of Saint Oscar A. Romero and participate in a meeting with religious figures at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace. The schedule also includes a stop at the Catholic University of Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo.

On November 14, he will preside over the coronation rite of the Immaculate Virgin at the Cathedral of Santa Maria, located in front of the Plaza de Armas. It was in this church that Leo XIV celebrated masses while he was the bishop of the city.

Chiclayo also serves as a gateway to historical attractions in Lambayeque, such as the Pyramids of Túcume and the Royal Tombs Museum of Sipán, which exhibits gold and silver artifacts related to pre-Hispanic heritage.

After the ceremony at the Chiclayo Cathedral, Leo XIV will travel to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, in the Cajamarca region. Arrival is expected at 9:50 AM, and at 11:00 AM, the pontiff will celebrate mass on the local esplanade. For those wishing to see this area, points of interest include the Cerro Cotorumi Viewpoint, which offers views of the valley and mountains, and the hot springs of Chancaybaños.

On November 15, the pope will travel to Cusco, a city situated at approximately 3,400 meters above sea level in the Peruvian Andes. The program will begin at the Saqsaywaman National Archaeological Park, where Leo XIV will meet with faithful and representatives of popular devotion. This archaeological complex, notable for its stone structures, is one of the region's main attractions.

Near noon, the pontiff will pray the Angelus in front of the Cusco Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, located in the Plaza de Armas. Cusco features a historic center characterized by the presence of colonial buildings and vestiges of the Inca civilization. The city also serves as a starting point for the Sacred Valley, an area concentrating archaeological sites and landscapes nestled in the Andean mountains.

Still on the 15th, Leo XIV will proceed to Pucallpa, in the Peruvian Amazon. Located on the banks of the Ucayali River, this city will be the pontiff's last stop before returning to Lima. The agenda in Pucallpa includes the Malecón Puerto Callao, where there will be a meeting with missionaries and representatives of Amazonian peoples. In the afternoon, he will celebrate mass at the Ucayali Regional Sports Villa, before returning to the Peruvian capital during the night.

Pucallpa offers travelers an environment distinct from the other cities on the itinerary, presenting tropical forest landscapes and the presence of the Ucayali River, a daily element of local communities.

On November 16, the last day of the trip, Leo XIV will visit Callao, a port city near Lima and home to Peru's main port. This destination has a connection to the pontiff's religious trajectory, as he served as an apostolic administrator in the region. During the visit, he will meet with professionals and people assisted by the Casa de Acogida de las Hermanitas de los Ancianos Desamparados, an institution dedicated to elder care.

Among the attractions in Callao are the Cathedral Matriz Church, linked to the city's religious history, and the Real Felipe Fortress, a military fortification from the colonial period. Another leisure option is visiting La Punta, a coastal neighborhood situated by the Pacific Ocean.