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Pope Leo XIV to Travel 19,000 Miles on 14 Flights During Latin America Trip
Confirmed
In Short: ROME (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV will travel more than 19,000 miles on 14 flights during a November trip to Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay, according to the full schedule the Vatican released Sept. 21.
The journey begins Nov. 6 with a flight of more than 14 hours and 6,900 miles from Rome to Montevideo, Uruguay, the capital and largest city.
The trip will be the first papal visit to Latin America of Pope Leo’s pontificate and his longest international journey to date.
The pope will travel to a new destination nearly every day, including a 2,200-mile flight from Buenos Aires to Lima and a military helicopter flight.
The return flight from Lima, Peru, to Rome covers 6,700 miles.
In between, the pope will celebrate nine public Masses, participate in three prayer vigils, meet with the respective bishops’ conferences and synodal teams, and conduct a meeting with missionaries and representatives of the Amazon peoples.
The trip culminates with a return to Chiclayo, Peru, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.
The logo for the trip shows Pope Leo surrounded by Peruvian saints, in front of a map of Peru enclosed in a large red heart.
Pope Leo will visit Montevideo, Paysandú, and Florida, home to the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three.
What this adds
The trip is Pope Leo’s longest international journey to date, covering more than 19,000 miles on 14 flights over 12 days.
Pope Leo’s previous longest trip was to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, where he traveled 11,000 miles over 11 days.
Background
In a letter dated Sept. 8, Pope Leo XIV urged Latin American and Caribbean bishops to lead from the ground, emphasizing the importance of personal interaction with their flock.
Pope Leo XIV will travel over 19,000 miles on 14 flights during a 12-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, beginning Nov. 6.
What's confirmed
- ROME (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV will travel more than 19,000 miles on 14 flights during a November trip to Peru, Argentina and Uruguay, according to the full schedule the Vatican released Sept. 21.
- The journey begins Nov. 6 with a flight of more than 14 hours and 6,900 miles from Rome to Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Christians make up 44% of the population, the lowest share in Latin America, according to the Pew Research Center.
- The logo shows Pope Leo surrounded by Peruvian saints, in front of a map of Peru enclosed in a large red heart.
- 6-17 trip will be the first papal visit to Latin America of Pope Leo’s pontificate and his longest international journey to date.
- The trip culminates with a return to Chiclayo, Peru, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.
- The return flight from Lima, Peru, to Rome covers 6,700 miles.
- In between, the pope will travel to a new de s tination nearly every day, including a 2,200-mile flight from Buenos Aires to Lima and a military helicopter flight Nov.
- By comparison, Pope Leo traveled 11,000 miles over 11 days during his trip to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea earlier this year.
- The motto is drawn from the angel’s announcement to the shepherds of Bethlehem in the Gospel of Luke, “I bring you news of great joy.” Pope Leo will visit Montevideo, the capital and largest city; Paysandú, a cultural and economic hub on the border with Argentina; and Florida, home to the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three.
What's still developing
- Full details of Pope Leo XIV’s mammoth voyage to South America have been released by the Vatican, showing the Pontiff is due to take 14 flights and travel over 19,000 miles during the course of the 12 days.
- Though slow in some areas of his pontificate, Leo appears to have begun his reign with a keen desire to travel as much as possible, and the upcoming 12-day trip to South America will be a test of stamina if nothing else.
- Only two days are without flights in the entire trip, with Leo’s schedule involving numerous national plane journeys to reach different corners of the Church.
- (Find the Catholic Herald’s full preview and background of the trip here ) Each country is treated as a distinct stage, with the Vatican publishing separate logos and mottos for Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
- The Pope will meet privately with President Yamandú Orsi before presiding over his first liturgical ceremony – Vespers in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Philip and James.
- For the morning of November 8, Leo will offer Mass at the national shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, declared by Pope Pius XI as the patroness of Uruguay.