Pope Leon XIV to make multi‑city November visit to Peru

Pope Leon XIV, born Robert Prevost and a naturalised Peruvian, will travel to Peru in the first half of November 2026 for a visit lasting eight to ten days. The itinerary, outlined by President José María Balcázar after a meeting with the pontiff in the Vatican, includes Lima, Chiclayo, Piura, Cusco, Pucallpa and the Amazonian town of Pulcallpa.

The Peruvian government said a Mi‑17 helicopter named “Cusco” will be at the Pope’s disposal to reach remote provinces quickly: “El helicóptero que está volando… para que cuando venga el santo padre… tenga la oportunidad de coordinar… y se traslade a las provincias cercanas”. The trip arrives months after a tightly contested presidential election and weeks before the expected impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, prompting officials to hope the Pope’s presence will promote unity and draw attention to vulnerable communities.

Leon XIV’s connection to Peru runs deep; he spent more than two decades serving as a missionary and as bishop of Chiclayo before his election to the papacy, and he obtained Peruvian citizenship in 2015. The visit is therefore described as a “return home” by many faithful.