Pope Leo XIV Heads Back to South America Where He Spent Decades as a Missionary

Pope Leo XIV is traveling to South America for a trip that will take him through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, according to PBS NewsHour. The journey marks a homecoming of sorts for the pontiff, who spent roughly two decades in the region working as a missionary priest.

Peru in particular holds deep personal significance for Leo, who PBS NewsHour describes as having effectively adopted the country as a second homeland during his years there. It was during that extended missionary service that he developed much of his pastoral approach, experience he now carries into his role leading the global Catholic Church.

The visit gives Leo a chance to reconnect with communities that shaped his early ministry before he ascended to the papacy, retracing ground that helped define his spiritual path long before he was known on the world stage.