Christian World | Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday for a six-day visit after closing his Argentina trip with a Mass in Luján that the Vatican said drew about 2 million

ACW | November 12, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday for the final leg of his South America trip, hours after closing a four-day visit to Argentina with a Mass at the shrine of Our Lady of Luján, Vatican News reported.

The Vatican estimated the Luján crowd at about 2 million people, The Associated Press reported. In his homily, the pope called Argentines to reconciliation, to be enlightened by God's word, to communion and to mission, ending with: "Argentina, arise and walk!"

Earlier that day he visited the Villa Devoto Federal Penitentiary in Buenos Aires and heard testimonies from inmates. "Human beings do not flourish in spite of their limitations, but often through them," he told them.

The papal plane left Buenos Aires at 2:38 p.m. local time, Vatican News said. Peru's President Keiko Fujimori and Foreign Minister Carlos Espá welcomed him at Callao Air Base.

According to the program published by Vatican News, the pope meets Peru's bishops at Lima's cathedral on Thursday and celebrates Mass on Friday in Chiclayo, where he was bishop from 2015 to 2023. He returns to Rome on Monday, Nov. 16.

Background: Pope Leo's 12-day Latin America trip began in Uruguay on Nov. 6, and Peru is its third and final stop. ACW earlier reported that Pope Leo hailed Córdoba as a 'home of saints' at an Argentina Mass.

Why it matters: At the prison, the pope urged Argentina's authorities and society to protect young people from criminal networks, warning that "the Lord will call us to account for what we have done for each of our brothers and sisters," Vatican News reported.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Vatican News — Pope Leo arrives in Peru for final leg of Apostolic Journey; Vatican News — Pope invites Argentina to reconciliation, enlightenment, communion, mission; Vatican News — Pope to prisoners in Argentina; Vatican News — Pope Leo XIV departs from Argentina for Peru; The Associated Press (via Crux) — The pope ends an emotional Argentina visit

Photo: Vatican Media (via Vatican News)