Pope Leo XIV to visit Cusco on November 15 in first papal trip to Peru since 1981
The Archdiocese of Cusco is preparing its 85 parishes for Pope Leo XIV's November 15 visit, which will include a Marian gathering at Sacsayhuamán and the Angelus in the city's Plaza de Armas
Pope Leo XIV will visit Peru on November 15, the first papal trip to the Andean country since St. John Paul II traveled there in 1981, more than four decades ago. Cusco, known as the Imperial City, will be the center of the visit, and local Catholics have spent weeks preparing.
Archbishop Richard Daniel Alarcón Urrutia of Cusco said Leo XIV is not arriving as a stranger. His record of pastoral service in northern Peru and his work in the Peruvian Bishops' Conference tie him closely to the Church in Peru. Alarcón described him as "a very simple person who does not talk much, very serene and very capable," and said he was able to create a calm atmosphere in the bishops' debates.
Program of events in Cusco
The schedule has two main events: a Marian gathering at the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park and the Angelus prayer in Cusco's Plaza de Armas. The preparations, led by the Archdiocese of Lima, can be followed in the documentary series "León XIV vuelve a casa" ("Leo XIV returns home").
Preparation in Cusco's parishes
The Archdiocese of Cusco has launched a preparation campaign across its 85 parishes, with days of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and catechesis on the Petrine ministry. Alarcón said the aim goes beyond protocol: to spread the pope's message and help build peace among the faithful.
Father Julio Velazco, the archdiocese's communications director, said the preparation includes a focus on "theology from below," with active listening to people's concerns and needs. Father Heberth Challco, who oversees pastoral ministry in the archdiocese, said the pope's visit must be more than a media event and has to reach the poorest and most remote parishes.
A message of hope amid social crisis
Anticipation for the visit comes against a difficult social backdrop. Luis Felipe Murillo, a member of the Commission for the Relics of the Señor de los Temblores (Lord of the Earthquakes), said the pope's presence should act as a balm for the wounds of a population hit by insecurity and uncertainty. He said he hoped the pope's message would bring calm to the country.
During his time as bishop of Chiclayo, Leo XIV said that "our unity as bishops, always in communion with the Holy Father, is a sign and a message for the whole Church in Peru." The pope has said the community in Cusco left an indelible mark on his heart.
