Pope Leo XIV Begins Latin America Tour Amid Health Challenges and Thorny Issues

Pope Leo XIV, aged 71, began on Friday, November 6, 2026, an extensive tour of Latin America, the world's largest Catholic region, just three weeks after undergoing delicate surgery following a diagnosis of lung cancer. The tour extends until November 17, covering three countries: Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru—the country where the Pontiff lived for nearly 20 years and previously served as the bishop of the city of Chiclayo.

A Long-Awaited Papal Return and a Packed Schedule

This visit is considered historic for the three nations, as no pontiff has visited them since Pope John Paul II's tour in the late 1980s. Despite the long-held expectations of Argentines toward the late Pope Francis—who visited Peru in 2018 without visiting his homeland—Pope Leo XIV chose to return to the continent to spend a week in Peru, including a special visit to his former city of Chiclayo.

Despite his health condition and ongoing convalescence, the Pope is expected to preside over more than 50 events in the presence of millions of the faithful, ranging from open-air masses and prayer vigils with youth to meetings with indigenous peoples from the Amazon region, as well as holding meetings with victims of sexual abuse.

Political Files and Religious Competition

On the political front, the tour's schedule includes talks with heads of state of the respective countries, most notably Argentine President Javier Milei, amid relations marked by tension between the two sides, especially after the latter inaugurated an evangelical church in late October, signaling the growing competition faced by the Catholic Church in Latin America from evangelical movements and individualized forms of religiosity.

Uruguay Stop: Secularism Controversy and Symbolism

The Pope kicked off his tour with a three-day visit to Uruguay, where he was welcomed at Independence Square in the capital, Montevideo. He is scheduled to visit an underprivileged neighborhood in the capital and celebrate masses in the cities of Paysandú and Florida, in addition to a massive prayer vigil on Saturday, November 7, at the Centenario Stadium in the presence of tens of thousands.

The visit highlights the secular character of Uruguay, where only a third of the population identifies as Catholic, and where December 25 is officially designated as "Family Day." The visit has sparked political debate following a proposal to illuminate the parliament's facade with the Vatican's colors, which was rejected by lawmakers from the ruling leftist coalition (the Broad Front) as an infringement on secularism, while President Yamandú Orsi receives the Pope in his capacity as the head of state of Vatican City.

Sexual Abuse File Overshadows Peru Stop

Ahead of the Pontiff's arrival in Peru, the organization "BishopAccountability" revealed a list of 77 Peruvian religious figures accused of committing sexual abuse, publishing their photographs and summaries of the allegations against them, in an effort to document evidence and hold those implicated accountable, whether they have been convicted by courts or remain in their positions.

Through its coordinator, Anne Barrett Doyle, the organization demanded decisive measures banning those involved in child abuse crimes from exercising any clerical duties, considering this to be the bare minimum expected from the Pope. Pope Leo's handling of this file faces criticism from victims' associations that urge him to show greater firmness regarding cases pending before the judiciary. While the Pope promised to meet with victims during his tour, the details of this meeting remain unannounced so far.