The Holy See Press Office has released the programme for Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming Apostolic Journey to South America in November, which will see him visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru and travel to ten cities over twelve days.
Alongside the programme, the logos and mottos for each of the three stages have also been unveiled.
The Holy See had already announced the dates of the journey, and the cities to be visited, on 5 August, but the programme released today reveals further details, including times, venues and activities.
6-8 November: Uruguay
The Pope will arrive in Uruguay, where he will remain from 6 to 8 November, visiting Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida.
It will be the first papal visit to the country since St John Paul II’s journey in 1988. The motto for this stage of the visit will be “I bring you news of great joy”, taken from the angel’s announcement to the shepherds in Bethlehem (Lk 2:10. The logo, on the other hand, shows Christ crucified and risen, flanked by Pope Leo and Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, patroness of Uruguay. Above them is the sun, inspired by the “Sun of May”, a symbol of Uruguay’s national identity, while the colour blue evokes the national flag.
The logo of the papal trip to Argentina
8–11 November: Argentina
On 8 November, Pope Leo will head to Argentina, where he will remain until 11 November. The programme includes visits to Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján.
The visit will be particularly significant as Argentina is the home country of Pope Francis. The Pope will arrive in the country almost four decades after the last papal visit: St John Paul II travelled there in 1987.
The motto for this stage will be “Welcome everyone. Go and proclaim”. The logo depicts a group of people with a cross at the centre. The arrangement of the figures suggests a shared journey, in which each person participates with a sense of co-responsibility: from encounter to proclamation, as missionary disciples on the way.
The logo of the Apostolic Journey to Peru
11-17 November: Peru
On 11 November, the Pope will travel to Peru, where he will remain until 17 November. This will be the longest stage of the journey and include stops in Lima, Chiclayo, Cuzco and Pucallpa. The visit will have particular significance for a Pope who spent years carrying out missionary and pastoral work in the country.
The motto for this stage of the trip is “Let us open our hearts”. The logo is framed by a heart symbolising openness to God, to others and to the future. Inside is a map of Peru, over which the Holy Spirit is depicted in the form of a dove. At the centre is the Pope, surrounded by the Peruvian saints St Rose of Lima, St Turibius of Mogrovejo, St Martin de Porres, St Francis Solano and St John Macías.
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