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Pope Leo XIV to Tour Uruguay, Argentina, Peru November 6-17

By Drooid · Oct 31, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV will travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru Nov 6–17 after his Oct 13 cancer surgery.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher called the pope’s illness a “game-changer” for his image.
The pope will meet several victims of clerical sexual abuse during the tour.
On Nov 11 he will visit Buenos Aires’ Federal Penitentiary, the feast of St Martin of Tours.

History

In October 1988 Pope John Paul II toured Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, drawing over a million worshippers in Buenos Aires and reinforcing the Vatican’s expanding Latin-American outreach—reflected in his record of visits to 129 countries. Pope Leo XIV’s 2024 South-American trip follows that precedent, using the itinerary to address the Church’s clerical-abuse crisis and revive dialogue with victims.

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In October 1988 Pope John Paul II toured Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, drawing over a million worshippers in Buenos Aires and reinforcing the Vatican’s expanding Latin-American outreach—reflected in his record of visits to 129 countries. Pope Leo XIV’s 2024 South-American trip follows that precedent, using the itinerary to address the Church’s clerical-abuse crisis and revive dialogue with victims.

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