LIMA, Peru – Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday, November 11, beginning a six-day visit to a country he calls home. He spent more than two decades there as a missionary and church leader.
His plane landed at Callao Air Base. President Keiko Fujimori and Foreign Minister Carlos Espá welcomed him.
Children presented flowers as a choir performed during the official reception. The pope also greeted people with disabilities, blessed babies and accepted gifts from children.
The Vatican described the visit as a homecoming. Leo spent many years serving the Catholic Church in Peru and became a Peruvian citizen in 2015.
Large crowds gathered along the streets of Lima to welcome him. Vatican estimates cited in reports put the number of people taking part in the reception at about three million.
Peru Shaped the Pope’s Years as a Missionary and Bishop
Before becoming pope, Leo spent decades serving Catholic communities in Peru. He first arrived as a missionary in the 1980s and later held senior roles in the Augustinian community.
In 2015, he became Bishop of Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru. He served there until 2023 and built close ties with local communities.
During his first public address in Lima, Leo remembered the people who had welcomed him into their homes. He also recalled those who had shared their lives with him.
■ Related News
Returning to Peru carried special meaning, he said. His connection with the country began long before he became a bishop.
Leo also thanked Peruvians for their kindness and affection. He said their conversations and gestures of friendship had stayed with him.
Pope Calls on Leaders to Protect Peace and Human Dignity
During an address at the Grand National Theatre, Leo urged leaders to focus on the needs of ordinary people.
Government officials, civil society representatives and diplomats attended the event.
The pope said Peru’s future depended on cooperation and a shared commitment to the common good. He also called for respect for every person’s dignity.
He stressed that communities need the right conditions to live in peace.
The visit comes as Peru faces concerns over poverty, inequality, public safety and political instability.
Leo’s programme includes meetings with religious leaders, young people and Indigenous communities. He will also visit areas facing social and environmental challenges.
Six-Day Programme Includes Chiclayo, Cusco and the Amazon
The official visit runs from November 11 to 17. Leo’s itinerary includes Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa.
On Thursday, November 12, he is scheduled to meet Peru’s bishops. He will also pray with priests and members of religious communities.
Later that day, the pope will address a gathering about the country’s hopes and challenges. He is also scheduled to lead an evening prayer vigil for young people and university students at the National Stadium.
Pope Returns to the City Where He Served as Bishop
On Friday, Leo will travel to Chiclayo to celebrate Mass near the Pampas de Pimentel.
The visit will bring him back to the city where he served as bishop. His programme also includes meetings with pastoral workers and university representatives.
The following days will take him to communities in the Andes and the Amazon region.
In Cusco, he is scheduled to meet the faithful at the Saqsaywaman archaeological park. In Pucallpa, he will meet missionaries and representatives of Amazonian communities.
The pope’s programme includes a Mass at Las Palmas Air Base in Lima on November 16. He is then scheduled to leave Peru for Rome.
For Peru, the visit marks an important national event. It also brings back a religious leader whose life and work remain closely linked to the country.
For Leo, the journey offers a chance to reconnect with the people and communities that shaped his life before he became pope.
Primary Sources: Holy See Press Office — “Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru (6–17 November 2026) – Programme,” September 21, 2026: Establishes the official itinerary, dates, destinations and scheduled meetings during the Peru visit. Government of Peru — Supreme Decree No. 037-2026-RE, August 14, 2026: Declares the pope’s November 11–17 visit a matter of national interest and identifies Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa as destinations. Pope Leo XIV — Address to Peruvian Authorities, Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps at the Grand National Theatre, November 11, 2026: Reflects on his longstanding connection with Peru and calls for cooperation and respect for human dignity. Vatican News — “Pope Leo arrives in Peru for final leg of Apostolic Journey,” November 11, 2026: Documents his arrival at Callao Air Base, the official reception and his previous service in Peru.
