Pope Leo XIV will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17, the Vatican said on Wednesday, in a return to the continent where the pontiff spent decades as a missionary.

The pope, who was born Robert Francis Prevost in the US city of Chicago, lived for more than two decades in Peru, where he was a missionary and bishop in Chiclayo.

The northern city will be among the stops the head of the Roman Catholic Church will make in the Andean nation, along with the capital Lima, Cusco and Pucallpa.

Leo, who obtained Peruvian citizenship in 2015, will visit the country from November 11 to 17 for the final portion of the trip.

The Apostolic journey will start in Uruguay and continue in Argentina — marking the first official visit by a pontiff in almost 40 years to the two South American neighbours.

Leo's predecessor, Francis, never returned to his home country of Argentina while pope.

Leo will visit Montevideo, Paysandu and Florida from November 6 to 8 in Uruguay and then head to Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Lujan in Argentina until November 11. (AFP)


Edited by Priscilla Ng