Pope Leo XIV departed Rome on Friday morning for his Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, marking his sixth international trip since his election as Supreme Pontiff.
The Holy Father left Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport at Fiumicino aboard an ITA Airways Airbus at 7:05 a.m. local time, beginning a journey that will take him across three South American nations from November 6 to 17.
According to Vatican News, the papal aircraft is expected to arrive at Montevideo-Carrasco International Airport in Uruguay at approximately 4:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. Rome time), following a flight of more than 13 hours.
Uruguay will be the first stop on the Pope’s 12-day Apostolic Journey, before he continues to Argentina and Peru.
Upon arrival in Montevideo, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to receive an official welcome at the airport before proceeding to Plaza Independencia, where a welcome ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m.
The Pontiff is also scheduled to meet Uruguay’s President, Yamandú Orsi, as well as representatives of the country’s authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps.
The day’s programme will conclude with the celebration of Vespers at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Philip and James, alongside bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and seminarians.
The Apostolic Journey will continue in Uruguay until November 8, after which the Pope will travel to Argentina before proceeding to Peru.
The visit will bring Pope Leo XIV back to a region with which he has longstanding pastoral connections, particularly Peru, where he spent many years serving the Catholic Church.
According to the Holy See’s published programme, the journey will conclude on November 17, with the Pope scheduled to return to Rome.
The Apostolic Journey provides an opportunity for the Holy Father to meet local communities, Church leaders and civil authorities while carrying out his pastoral mission across the three countries.
